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I worked on a wildfire this summer then spent the fall doing layout for salvage harvest and assisting with the fire rehab. It gave me a chance to revisit the area mentioned in my Aug. 4 post (link below) and add to my observations on improving the wildfire resilience of our regenerated stands. Don’t Neglect […]
Read MoreThe recent discussions about forming a federal wildfire response agency have generated a lot of discussion and opinions from experts on where to focus our taxpayer money. Should we increase our response capacity or increase fuel modification? As is usual the answer is a bit of both. Our wildlands are in such poor condition we […]
Read MoreI just did my 2024 Safety Audit and had a field visit from the area Forest Safety Council rep. What a valuable exercise but I am feeling shame. My audit results indicate that I have been negligent in my wildfire entrapment reporting. In recent years my interactions with wildfire have become increasingly prolonged and intense […]
Read MoreI am not sure if we will still have a forest industry after breakup but, ever the optimist, I am continuing work to improve contractors’ prevention, preparedness and response capabilities. Here are some tips from recent experiences. Pumps used in wildfire response are key pieces of emergency equipment. Make sure you evaluate your specific situation […]
Read MoreIntro and Background The longer days seem to be stirring up a lot of interest in wildfire training activity. Some groups have developed their own internal material, some instructors use the BC Wildfire (BCWS) S100 curriculum as is, some use on-line refreshers, some put large groups through simultaneously, some don’t do the practical day, and […]
Read MoreMy condolences to you all who suffered losses in 2024. We lost several legends in the forest industry and in our personal lives. Yet again, towns and communities were devastated and lives disrupted. My heart goes out to you all. I just completed the 2024 MacLeod Forest Services (MFS) annual review with my customers. My […]
Read MoreThere is a lot of money being spent on Wildfire Planning, Prevention, Mitigation and Preparedness but a lot of us are the dropping ball on Response. We are going to be facing large, uncontrollable wildfires for years, maybe lifetimes to come. We can’t afford to build a big enough organization to respond to every wildfire […]
Read MoreDrainage with harvesting for 50 years. Where is the clearcut?
Read MoreWho is the Forest Industry There are lots of people making upper-level decisions regarding the future of forestry in BC. Many seem to be calling for the forest industry to be shut down. We are often portrayed in media reports as a faceless evil entity, managed from afar that pillages local resources just to line […]
Read MoreThe rain has reduced the fire behavior but with the storms BC received a ton of lightning. Time to wait and and see if things dry out again and fire activity picks up or if it is time to get the fall work rolling. As I wait here are some good practices and opportunities for […]
Read MoreThere have been several recent discussions about the pros and cons of post wildfire salvage. As always, we should base our decisions and methods on site specific circumstances and objectives, not blanket policies or procedures. To be clear, I am not a scientist. The following information is based on my experience and observations. On a […]
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