Fire Management 24/7/365 Workshop

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Fire Management 24/7/365:

A Workshop on the Mitigation of Wildfire Risk in Mixed-Conifer Forests of California

What needs to change in the wake of the 2020 fire season

February 11–12, 2021

[POSTED March 22, 2021]

Fire Management 24/7/365 is a wrap! About 125 people watched the livestreamed Plenary Sessions (now available on YouTube; more info below), and another 90 participated in the Working Sessions.

Fire Management 24/7/365 is a collaborative workshop designed to produce real, on-the-ground projects and other advances that increase the cooperative use of prescribed fire and other fuels treatments in California’s mixed-conifer forest ecosystems. The workshop consisted of livestreamed opening and closing Plenary Sessions that explored the impacts of the 2020 fire season on the future management strategies of four key agencies: the California Natural Resources Agency, CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Park Service. Both Plenary Sessions provided additional context and perspectives on what changes are needed and what challenges lie ahead for wildland fire management in California.

Working Sessions developed collaborative projects for prescribed fire/fuels treatments in three locations: Stanislaus National Forest/Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Forest/Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks, and mixed-conifer forests in Southern California. The Working Sessions were by invitation and not videorecorded.

Missed the workshop? You can watch the Plenary Sessions on YouTube. The video is divided into the segments below so you can watch all or any selected part you like.

0:00 Introduction to the Opening Plenary (February 11) by Jerry Mitchell, Chair, Fire Management 24/7/365 Steering Committee
22:00 Presentation by Sharon Farrell, Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy / California Landscape Stewardship Network, "Collaborative Leadership on Wildfire Management: Core Elements of Success"

PERSPECTIVES FROM AGENCIES

Deputy Secretary, Forest Resources Management, CA Natural Resources Presentation by Jessica Morse, 38:29
Agency
1:02:28 Presentation by Helge Eng, Deputy Director, Resource Management, CAL FIRE
1:26:58 Presentation by Tony Scardina, Deputy Regional Forester, US Forest Service
1:38:09 Presentation by William Kaage, Chief of Fire & Aviation Management, National Park Service
1:55:19 General Discussion

2:25:27 Introduction to the Closing Plenary (February 12) by Jerry Mitchell
2:28:29 Report from Stanislaus NF and Yosemite NP Hub
2:41:45 Report Sequoia NF and Sequoia & King Canyon NP Hub
2:57:16 Report from Southern California Hub
3:38:18 Closing Talk by Scott Stephens, Professor of Fire Science, UC Berkeley, “What’s Next? Wildfire in California’s New Climate Reality”
4:25:16 Closing Discussions
4:36:18 Closing Comments by Jerry Mitchell

PowerPoint presentations

Several presenters have been kind enough to allow their PPTs to be shared here (saved in PDF format):

"2021 Fire Management 24/7/365—Mitigation of Wildfire Risk in Mixed-Conifer Forests of California," Randy Striplin, Regional Fuels Planner, US Forest Service
"Tools of the Trade for Prescribed Fire Projects," Len Nielson, Prescribed Fire and Environmental Protection Staff Chief, CAL FIRE
"Charismatic Critters: North Merced Prescribed Burn, Stanislaus National Forest," Crispin Holland, Forest Wildlife, Range, Botany, Aquatic Program Manager, Stanislaus National Forest
"Key Partnership Tools: Cooperative Fire Management Agreement (CFMA)," Robyn Woods, Pacific Southwest Region Fuels Operation Specialist, US Forest Service
"What’s Next? Wildfire in California’s New Climate Reality," Scott Stephens, Professor of Fire Science, UC Berkeley

In addition, we’ll be publishing three articles on wildfire management in California in the May 2021 issue of our open-access journal, Parks Stewardship Forum.

Read on for more about the workshop.

As you all know, the pandemic is not the only thing that has transformed our world. The devastating fire season this fall in California has fundamentally changed the conversation on how to manage fire across the state. New priorities are emerging, and with them come new possibilities for collaboration on prescribed fire/fuels management. Fire Management 24/7/365 is seizing the moment to help encourage fundamental change.

The workshop will consist of:

Livestreamed opening and closing Plenary Sessions that explore the impacts of the 2020 fire season on the future management strategies of four key agencies: the California Natural Resources Agency, CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Park Service. Both Plenary Sessions will provide additional context and perspectives on what changes are needed and what challenges lie ahead for wildland fire management in California. You can register to view the livestreams by clicking the button at left.
Working Sessions to develop collaborative projects for prescribed fire/fuels treatments in three locations: Stanislaus National Forest/Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Forest/Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Parks, and mixed-conifer forests in Southern California. The Working Sessions are by invitation and will not be streamed. The closing Plenary Session will include reports from the Working Sessions.

The overall mission of the workshop remains the same, but we are sharpening it to laser-focus on what needs to change — now — in the wake of California’s devastating 2020 wildfire season. The workshop program is available here.

Why are we doing this?

Catastrophic wildfires, sometimes called “megafires,” are more and more common in the western United States. California in particular is increasingly thought of as having a year-round (24/7/365) fire season. These megafires ignore boundaries, require prolonged and expensive interagency responses, and harm natural and cultural resources. Many agencies have developed programs designed to reduce wildfire risk, such as through the use of mechanical thinning or prescribed fire. However, these programs often are treating far fewer acres than called for in planning documents. Experienced fire scientists and managers believe it is time to reassess fire and fuels management programs.

Fire Management 24/7/365 Workshop Steering Committee

Jerry Mitchell, chair

Terri Thomas, Tom Nichols. Jan van Wagtendonk, Sarah Campe, Len Nielson, Eamon Engber, Jason Kuiken, Randy Striplin , Dan Buckley, Christy Brigham, Joe Gonzales, Erik Torres, Angel Prieto, John Ziegler, Kevin Soland, Beck Johnson, Jim Junette, Christina Barba, Landin Ballard