The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program’s Post

Catch my interview live with NPR All Things Considered today at 2:20PM PST/5:20PM EST. I had the incredible opportunity to speak with host Juana Summers on the forestry workforce shortage in California and the wider US, and how the The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program is solving for it by elevating an untapped pool of talent: formerly incarcerated folks. In 2023, the The Nature Conservancy Conservancy reported that there will be a gap of nearly 9,400 forestry workers in California by 2028. Recent data shows that over 3,500 people were released from prison with Fire Camp experience–a third of California’s wildland firefighting personnel shortage. At the The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program, we’re setting out to connect these dots and close this gap in our state, but we know that California isn’t the only one battling labor shortages, employment challenges, and a climate crisis. We’re committed to tackling these issues one step at a time–and our work is just beginning. You can also find my interview available on all streaming platforms. Please be sure to give it a listen, and learn more about the opportunity FFRP provides: https://lnkd.in/gmHkTBWh And if you’re interested in supporting my work at FFRP, please consider making a contribution today: https://lnkd.in/ghFa2G-g

We are committed to bringing updates to you, both the good and the bad, but we are devastated at how many fires we have already had to report only halfway through the year. Right now, the largest active fire in the nation, in Butte County, California. It is tragedies like these that keep us committed to our mission, to bring technology and communication together, to save lives. Follow our journey as we strive to bring live wind direction and wind speed tracking capabilities through our Dropblock devices to every wildland firefighter team in the country. THAT is how we will help save lives. THAT is our GOAL. Check out the article below by NPR with live and up-to-date coverage on the Butte County wildfire. #wildlandfire #fireandsafety #fireandrescue #rogocommunications #technology #thales #iridium #metocean #yarnellhillfire #communication #artificialintelligence #buttecountywildfire https://lnkd.in/gJNt3pJZ

#SOF Truth # 1; 'Humans are more important than hardware.  People – not equipment – make the critical difference. The right people, highly trained and working as a team, will accomplish the mission with the equipment available. On the other hand, the best equipment in the world cannot compensate for a lack of the right people.' Interesting piece this morning about the value of human fire-tower-lookouts, versus the use of tech to replace them. I personally believe that the best solution is a balance of the two, but that any argument made solely on the basis of 'cost efficiency' should be ignored in favour of arguments which prioritize public safety and operational capacity and capability. I'd be interested in hearing from my natural resources, wildfire, forestry, and emergency management people about their opinions on the manned-fire-tower issue. Side note- this piece is from the CBC- the organization which just received an additional $100 million dollars from the federal government in the 2024 budget. (You may recall the CEO, Catherine Tait, sitting smugly in committee recently, smirking as she defended the raises being handed out to CBC executives while the CBC frontline staff were being furloughed.) Bear that $100 million dollar bump to the limousine leftists at "Canada's national broadcaster" in mind, when you read this article and see that the feds have apportioned an additional *$800 thousand dollars* to wildfire mitigation in the same budget, despite predictions that Canada will be facing one of the worse wildfire seasons yet. Maybe if I see Miss Tait and her cronies out on a fire line, working hand tools and hoses in roasting heat and choking smoke, I will reverse my utter contempt and total disgust for our 'government' and its' CBC mouthpiece. And pigs might fly, as well. #wildlandfire #wildfire #CBC #firetowers #emergencyplanning #forestry #naturalresources #publicsafety #budget #Canada #AI #drones #technology #humanfactors https://lnkd.in/gjzDxW7m

🌩 Lightning Strikes: The Leading Cause of Wildfire Acreage Burned in 2023 🔥 Every year, wildfires devastate vast landscapes, and while not every lightning strike poses a threat, the ones that do can lead to catastrophic consequences. Identifying these high-risk strikes is key to wildfire prevention. According to recent data from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), lightning was responsible for over 80% of the total acreage burned by wildfires in California in 2023. This staggering figure highlights the critical need for timely and accurate detection of High-Risk-Lightning™ strikes. At Fire Neural Network, we are committed to detecting these dangerous lightning strikes and providing rapid alerts to help prevent devastating wildfires. By using advanced technology, we're able to focus on the small portion of lightning strikes that actually ignite fires, keeping communities safer and better prepared. #FNN #FireNeuralNetwork #HRL #WildfirePrevention #FireSafety #LightningDetection #FindingFiresLightningFast

Kittatinny Ridge Among 5 Sentinel Landscapes Selected to Address Climate Change Impacts and Strengthen Military Readiness https://lnkd.in/eD62ZKid “In the Lenape language, Kittatinny means “Big Mountain,” which describes the geography of Kittatinny Ridge Sentinel Landscape well. Located in eastern Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Mountains, it encompasses forested ridges and fertile valleys that provide clean water, sequester vast amounts of carbon, and serve as a crucial corridor for rare wildlife and songbird migration. The landscape is anchored by Fort Indiantown Gap, the busiest National Guard training center, the Army’s second busiest heliport, and one of only three specialized Army National Guard aviation facilities. With the primary mission of preserving military mission readiness, operations, testing and training capabilities, KRSL partners are focused on increasing coordinated and holistic land conservation, natural resource protection, and stewardship initiatives; supporting working lands productivity and economic development; and improving nature-based recreational resources and access to sustain small-town economies.” #agriculture #conservation #wildlife #military #cleanwater #chesapeakebay #pennsylvania #partnerships

🦅 The duration of falconry bird control can vary based on the level of infestation and specific site conditions, but typically, a long-term approach is most effective. For a sustainable solution, it’s best implemented as part of a multi-month or even a 1-2 year contract. 👉 Here’s a breakdown: 📌 Initial Impact: Within the first few visits, pest birds start avoiding the area as they sense the presence of a predator. 📌Consistent Deterrence: Regular visits over several months reinforce the falcons' presence, creating a lasting deterrent effect. 📌Permanent Reduction: A structured program, often set for 1-2 years, discourages the birds from returning even after the service concludes. Falconry works gradually but powerfully, ensuring both an immediate and long-lasting reduction in pest bird populations. #FalconryBirdControl #LongTermBirdControl #PestBirdManagement #ProjectMultiPest #NaturalBirdDeterrent #EcoFriendlyPestControl #SustainableBirdControl #PigeonControl #2YearStrategy #BirdProofing

New Jersey. Jamaica. Both are the same size as the amount of land lost in Alberta to wildfire in in 2023. 2.2 million hectares. We need to fight fires differently: 1. Night time drone flights using thermal imaging to detect early hot spots 2. Aerial surveillance alongside aerial suppression teams to detect fire lines and send teams where they are needed most 3. Earlier season deployment to stop fires before they start Pegasus is leading the way in technology. Let's equip the technology in the hands of those who can take action #albertastrong #wildfire Government of Alberta | Government of Canada | Transport Canada - Transports Canada | Natural Resources Canada | Ressources naturelles Canada

#mdpifire 🔥 Defining #Wildfire Susceptibility Maps in Italy for Understanding Seasonal Wildfire Regimes at the National Level 👉 https://lnkd.in/dn9R7Snc #wildfire_mapping; #machine_learning; #wildfiremanagement

Climate change and flawed historical forestry practices have increased the frequency and intensity of wildfires in the United States. Due to a shortage of dedicated firefighting resources, military units — including active-duty forces — are deployed to suppress wildland fires ever more often. Meanwhile, the U.S. armed forces’ extensive foreign commitments show no indication of abating, especially considering China’s burgeoning military strength and Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine. My latest report, “Redefining the Military’s Role in Wildfire Suppression,” advocates for increased investments in civilian firefighting resources and new modern forestry and fire reduction techniques in an effort to reduce reliance on the U.S. military. While military forces have served an indispensable role in U.S. fire suppression, creating new fire management plans and reinforcing nonmilitary firefighting assets will help bolster the nation’s ability to respond to intensifying wildfires while leaving the armed forces with leeway to address their primary commitments. Want to hear more? You can find the paper link attached below. Big thank you to Evan Cooper for helping to inspire this project, and to Dr. Kathryn Fisher for her thoughtful comments.

In the remote, rugged, Northeastern terrain of B.C., nearly half of the world’s Stone’s sheep habitat can be found. These sheep and the ecosystem surrounding them have been supported through careful forest management practices since the 1970s. One such practice, jointly funded in recent years by HCTF and the Forest Enhancement Society of BC (FESBC), is prescribed fire. In May 2022, approximately 160 hectares of Stone’s sheep winter habitat were treated with prescribed fire. This initiative targeted four specific slopes (hillsides), utilizing aerial ignition techniques (dropping fire from helicopters) to reduce woody vegetation, enhance forage quality, and improve predator detection capabilities for the sheep. This treatment was part of a broader objective to restore and maintain habitat not only for Stone’s sheep but, in future project years, also for bighorn sheep, which inhabit the southernmost extent of the region. Read our blog about how prescribed fire is helping enhance stone sheep habitat on our website https://lnkd.in/genwB3AF