On January 16, 2026, the Butte Prescribed Burn Association conducted a landowner burn in Forest Ranch, with about 30 participants from various organizations. The burn area, which had been previously thinned, was covered in a layer of pine needles, oak leaves, and twigs. This video is about the importance of community involvement and cooperative efforts to address the thick vegetation in the Forest Ranch area.
Video (Partially) Summarized by Robots:
A Landowner Burn in Forest Ranch
- Zeke Lunder explains the burn in Forest Ranch, noting the dry conditions and the open nature of the area due to past burns.
- Concerns about burning due to fog and poor air quality in the valley were alleviated by an air quality exemption.
- The burn involved multiple organizations, including Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, Mechoopda Tribe, and Firestorm Chico.
- Ian Colunga and Logan Krahenbuhl led different flanks of the fire, while Dan Kelleher led a class from Firestorm on a separate, adjacent unit. All burning was under the oversight of PBA Coordinator/Burn Boss, David Mitchell.
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Community Involvement and Fire Management
- Zeke Lunder emphasizes the importance of starting with small burns and the simplicity of prescribed burning.
- The Butte Prescribed Burn Association (PBA) was established in 2021 and is part of a larger movement across the state.
- The Butte PBA’s grant is running out, highlighting the need for community support and donations.
- Zeke Lunder discusses the cooperative approach to fire management and the availability of resources through PBAs.
Fire Training and Techniques
- Dan Kelleher demonstrated various fire management techniques, including “railroad tracking” and “flanking fire”.
- The importance of community involvement and the role of volunteers in fire management is emphasized.
- Zeke Lunder discusses the simplicity of fire management using garden hoses and small equipment.
- The conversation highlights the effectiveness of community-led fire management efforts.
Community Support and Personal Experiences
- Landowner Lana Johnson discusses the challenges of managing 12 acres of land and the need for community support.
- She shares her experience with fire management, including attending Fire Safe Council meetings and reaching out to David for property hardening.
- Lana discusses the strong community spirit in Forest Ranch and the role of social media in fostering it.
- Lana’s husband had been burning for 50 years, and the family members supported their efforts.
- The importance of social media in spreading fire management information is discussed.
- Lana emphasizes the need for community support and the role of volunteers in fire management.
Lessons Learned and Future Steps
- Lana Johnson’s brother-in-law, Bruce, shares his experience with fire management and the importance of reaching out for help.
- The challenges of managing large properties alone and the need for community support are discussed.
- The importance of small, manageable burns and the role of volunteers in fire management is emphasized.
Final Thoughts and Reflections
- Zeke Lunder reflects on the importance of community-led fire management efforts and the need for larger projects, saying that while projects like this feel good, and great for training, small burns at this scale aren’t presently ‘moving the needle’ toward making Forest Ranch wildfire resilient.