The Garnet Fire continues to gobble acres, but the weather is cooling down a bit, and shortly, the fire will run out of mountains to run to the top of.
Tonight’s Lookout Livestream tracks today’s developments on the fire. We also talk about the Blue and Dillon Fires, and how tactics that look easy on a map may actually be impossible or deadly to try to pull off on the ground.
We finish the broadcast with talking about the seasonal transition from fire season to prescribed burning season.
Lookout Livestream
AI Transcript – Edited by Zeke
Zeke Lunder discussed the Garnet Fire. He highlighted the fire’s movement up Dinkey Creek and into McKinley Grove, and the Forest Service’s efforts to protect specific trees. Lunder criticized what he sees as a performative focus on individual ‘celebrity’ giant sequoia trees over broader forest management which could have reduced the fire’s overall intensity. He also discussed the transition from fire season to prescribed fire season, emphasizing the need for extensive fuel reduction in forests around communities. Additionally, he mentioned the Blue Fire’s slow spread and the strategic decisions regarding fire lines, considering the risks of standing dead trees.
Garnet Fire Overview and Initial Thoughts
- Zeke Lunder introduces the Garnet fire, mentioning the sadness it has caused and referencing a eulogy essay written by Matt Herteau, a fire researcher.
- Zeke discusses the Forest Service’s leadership issues and the challenges faced in forestry management.
- Zeke provides a brief history of the Garnet fire, mentioning the active areas and the recent mapping data.
Detailed Analysis of Garnet Fire Spread
- Zeke explains the fire’s activity over the past few days, including its movement up Dinkey Creek and through McKinley Grove.
- He describes the Forest Service’s efforts to protect specific giant sequoia trees, which he finds absurdly performative, in light of the Forest Service’s failure to otherwise manage the surrounding lands.
- Zeke discusses the fire’s behavior, noting that it has eaten most of the available slope and is now changing its character.
- He mentions the fire’s potential to burn out the upper basin around Dinkey Mountain and continued containment on the eastern half of the fire.
Forest Mismanagement and Fire Season Observations
- Zeke discusses the broader issue of forest mismanagement, using Sierra National Forest as an example.
- He mentions the lack of significant fires in Northern California this year and the impact of fuel moisture levels on fire behavior.
- Zeke explains the concept of ERC charts and their role in predicting fire season and prescribed fire season.
- He discusses the challenges of transitioning from fire season to prescribed fire season and the administrative hurdles involved.
Prescribed Fire and Mastication Techniques
- Zeke delves into the topic of prescribed fire, explaining its benefits and the challenges of implementing it.
- He discusses the use of mastication as a fuel reduction technique and its limitations, including the potential generation of piles of wood chips.
- Zeke shares examples of burning mastication and the difficulties of mopping up after such burns.
- He emphasizes the importance of understanding the equipment and techniques used in prescribed fire and mastication.
Blue Fire and Fire Management Decisions
- Zeke talks about the Blue fire, mentioning a potential strategy to cut a direct line on the southwest flank of the fire down to the PCT and the safety challenges posed by standing dead trees.
- He discusses the risks involved in firefighting in such terrain and the importance of considering the safety of firefighters.
- Zeke highlights the debate between aggressive firefighting and letting the fire burn out naturally, given the current conditions.
- He mentions the historical context of fire management in the area and the impact of previous fires on the landscape.
- He points out that with recent rains and below-average temperatures and humidities, the Klamath River country is now pretty much into prescribed burning season, especially in areas which have greatly-reduced fuel loads following recent wildfires (including the Blue Fire area).
- Zeke questions why we would risk firefighter lives to put out a fire which is backing with low-severity thru a recent burn scar.
- He points out that the firefighters on the ground have the best possible intel on how the fire is actually behaving, since they have been standing right next to it for weeks.
Dillon Fire and Other Fires
- Zeke provides a brief update on the Dillon fire, noting its slow spread and the fire’s behavior in different terrains.
- He discusses the general pattern of fires in the area, including their tendency to burn in fits and starts.
- Zeke mentions the historical context of fire behavior in the region and the impact of previous fire events.
Fire Season Transition and Prescribed Fire Training
- Zeke discusses the transition from fire season to prescribed fire season and the challenges of managing resources.
- He highlights the importance of prescribed fire training and the role of organizations like the Prescribed Burn Associations (PBA).
- Zeke mentions upcoming prescribed fire training events and the opportunities for volunteers to get involved.
- He emphasizes the need for collaboration and training to effectively manage prescribed fires.
Fire Safety and Leadership
- Zeke discusses the importance of fire safety and the role of leadership in making informed decisions.
- He shares examples of fire safety incidents including the 2008 Dutch Creek Fatality, on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, and the lessons learned from them.
- Zeke emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to fire management, considering both the risks and benefits of different strategies.