As wildfire seasons across the West worsen every year, many communities are adopting strategies to adapt to a “new normal” with the goal of reducing the negative impacts of wildfire to the places we call home. Proactive planning and wildfire risk reduction efforts have increasingly benefited from a network of strategists, community representatives, fire fighters and other organizations that share stories and resources as a “Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network”. Since 2016, Mt. Adams Resource Stewards has participated with the Washington Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network, sharing our growing experience around collaborative management of area forests, community forest management and development of local capacity to reduce the risk of destructive wildfire to Mt. Adams communities. We have also benefited from hearing the stories of other communities around the state and what has worked well for what are often unique circumstances for any given geography and demographic.
Locally, we are fortunate to count on a history of strong partnership and investment of resources from partners at Underwood Conservation District and Washington Department of Natural Resources. Community Wildfire Protection Planning efforts in both Klickitat and Skamania Counties have also served an important role. Area residents, community leaders and rural fire departments are increasingly engaged and encouraging a more robust conversation around wildfire risk mitigation and wildfire emergency management. Increasingly, we understand that the more hard work we can do up-front to address issues that arise before, during and after wildfire occurs, the better the outcome for our communities, personal property and safety, and beloved landscapes.
As we expand on this conversation around what a “fire adapted Mt. Adams” looks like, we invite you to visit this page for links to useful resources and announcements of upcoming events.
links to resources
on living with wildfire
Ready Set Go – IAFC International Association of Fire Chiefs
Reducing Wildfire Risks – Firewise USA – NFPA
Home Hardening – Cal Fire
DNR Forest Health Assistance – Small Forest Landowners
Underwood Conservation District Forestry & Firewise Webpage
North 40 Productions and Era of Megafires Wildfire Education
Fire-Resistant Plants for Home Landscapes – OSU Extension Catalog
FACT
Please check out the Fire Adapted Community of Trout Lake webpage for other useful information.
Stew Crew
To inquire with Mt. Adams Resource Stewards regarding the work of our stewardship crew (that works to address, among other things, wildfire threat on public and private lands in the Mt. Adams area), contact our Crew Lead, Lucas King, at lucas@mtadamsstewards.org.
Cougar Creek Fire Time Lapse
Check out this time lapse of the first day (August 10th of 2015) of the Cougar Creek Fire by Lucas King.