Wildfire Wednesdays #48: Smoke Preparedness Webinar - Fire Restrictions Tool - The West is Burning Documentary

Hi Fireshed Members,

With the drought, warmer spring weather, and wind we are already beginning to see Red Flag days across the state. Fire season comes early in the Southwest, so be prepared. While taking precautions to protect your home from flames and embers, be sure to prevent the start of a wildfire through debris burning, sparks from gas-powered equipment, or anything else.

This Wildfire Wednesdays features:

• Smoke Preparedness Webinar hosted by FACNM

• New Tool for Fire Restrictions Information

• The West is Burning: A Documentary about Increasing Wildfire

Best,

Gabe

Smoke Preparedness Webinar Tuesday, April 13th at 6pm

Click to zoom

Please Fire Adapted New Mexico learning network (FACNM) on Tuesday, April 13th at 6pm mst for a Smoke Preparedness Webinar with guest speaker Ali Lerch. Through this interview-style, 1-hour webinar we will open up a conversation with our speaker about the health effects of smoke, differences between prescribed fire and wildfire smoke, and some resources to prepare you and your family for wildfire smoke during the 2021 wildfire season. The webinar will take place on Facebook live and will be streaming from the FACNM Facebook as well as partner Facebook pages.  

Click to zoom

Guest speaker, Ali Lerch, has over 14 years of experience working with local, state, and tribal natural resource agencies in community wildfire facilitation, public speaking, planning, grant writing, coalition building, and risk assessments in high risk areas throughout the United States with a focus in North Carolina, Utah, Oregon, and Colorado. Ali provides expertise and support to organizations on wildfire smoke adaptation through the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network’s (FAC Net) Smoke Learning Group.

This webinar is part of an interagency campaign to promote wildfire preparedness in 2021, centering around the theme “Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round," Fire Adapted New Mexico and will be hosting a monthly webinar series for March, April, and May.  

New Tool for Fire Restrictions Information

Interagency public land management partners from Arizona and New Mexico have worked to develop a map-based tool to inform the public about fire restrictions on public lands. Partner agencies, under the Southwest Coordinating Group, have worked to develop a new informational web tool that went live Monday, April 5, 2021. The new web tool is designed to provide the public with fire restrictions information for public lands that is easy to find and understand, as well as linking the users to the agencies managing those public lands for more detailed information for trip planning.

Fire restrictions can be found by visiting the following locations: · In Arizona, the fire restriction information web-tool can be found by visiting: Wildlandfire.az.gov

In New Mexico, the fire restriction information web-tool can be found by visiting: NMFireInfo.com and selecting the Restrictions tab on top menu.

Fire restrictions are implemented in an effort to help decrease human-caused fires during periods of high fire potential by restricting activities which are the most common causes of wildfires. By providing a resource with accurate and timely information, the goal is to educate and increase compliance, therefore reducing preventable human-caused fires.

To read the full release, click here.

The West is Burning

THE WEST IS BURNING raises awareness about the conditions of forests in the western U.S. Told through a full-feature documentary, we examine the history of forest management and litigation that led to the current conditions which are causing catastrophic fire nearly year-round. The film explores the urgent need to act now, and the potential to generate positive change in our forests, watersheds, and communities, both rural and urban.

The documentary airs on PBS in New Mexico at 2pm tomorrow for the first time. To see the full list of showings on PBS in New Mexico, click here.

An app accompanies the documentary as a way for you to create short films with a narrow focus. Discover these short films on our story map.

Find community hosted screenings followed by engaging dialogue. Or host your own screening! We’ll provide a guide to help you facilitate it.

You have an important role in this conversation and we want you to be informed and involved.

For more information about the documentary on their website, click here.

SFNF Española District Implements Pacheco Canyon Prescribed Burn On Sunday

SANTA FE, NM – April 4, 2021 – Fire managers on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF) are taking advantage of optimal conditions to conduct the previously announced Pacheco Canyon prescribed burn on the Española Ranger District today. 

Smoke management is a key part of the planning and implementation of prescribed burns. The SFNF manages prescribed fires in compliance with New Mexico state regulations on air quality and smoke management. Smoke from the Pacheco Canyon prescribed burn may be visible in Santa Fe, Tesuque, Nambe, Los Alamos and Pojoaque as well as the I-25 and US 285/84 corridors for a day or two after the burn.

Smoke-sensitive individuals and people with respiratory problems or heart disease are encouraged to take precautionary measures. Information on air quality and protecting your health can be found online at the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) Environmental Public Health Tracking (EPHT) website. Information on the Forest Stewards Guild’s HEPA Filter Loan Program is available here.

The Pacheco Canyon prescribed burn unit is approximately 6 miles east of Tesuque Pueblo and 3 miles west of Ski Santa Fe. For additional information about the 550-acre Pacheco Canyon burn and its objectives, see the March 31 press release at https://go.usa.gov/xH3f9. Every prescribed burn is managed with firefighter and public safety as the first priority. 

Fire updates will be posted on the SFNF website, New Mexico Fire Information website and on the Santa Fe National Forest Facebook page and Twitter @SantafeNF.

For more information on the Pacheco Canyon pile burn, contact the Española Ranger District at 505-753-7331.

Wildfire Wednesdays #47: 2021 Wildfire Season Outlook - 2021 Prevention Summit - Smoke Preparedness Webinar

Hi Fireshed Members,

This week, March 28th- April 3rd, is Wildfire Awareness Week in New Mexico. This year’s theme is “Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round.” Take this week as an opportunity to talk with your friends, family, and neighbors about the upcoming wildfire season. The simple recognition that many of us live in wildfire-prone areas can increase awareness and motivate small actions that make a big difference.

This week’s Wildfire Wednesday features:

• Fire Season Weather Outlook

• 2021 Fire Prevention Summit

• Smoke preparedness webinar

Best,

Gabe

2021 Wildfire Season Outlook

This video from the National Weather Service in New Mexico takes a look back at 2020, follows with mid to late-March current conditions, and then finishes with a look at forecast projections for temperature and precipitation through the 2021 wildfire and monsoon seasons.

To watch the 2021 outlook, click here.

2021 Fire Prevention Summit

May 4th 9:00 am – 4:45 pm PST

Hosted by: Western Fire Chiefs Association

This is the first in a series of Wildfire Prevention Summits. This premiere event will examine the four primary causes (Arson, Accidental, Roadside & Utility Infrastructure) of wildfire ignitions with a focus on Roadside and Utility Infrastructure ignitions in the Western United States. The intent of the Summit is to provide a venue for an exchange of dialogue regarding current issues, best practices and emerging solutions on wildfire prevention. Our speakers and panels will provide a national perspective while discussing regional, statewide and local initiatives.

Fire safety professionals from around the world who are involved in wildfire protection and prevention are encouraged to attend this summit.

There is no cost to attend the Wildfire Prevention Summit!

To learn more, or to register, click here.

Smoke Preparedness Webinar

April 13th, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm mst on FACNM Facebook Livestream

Save the date for this free, one-hour webinar about smoke preparedness through the Fire Adapted New Mexico learning network featuring guest speaker Ali Lerch.

This webinar will provide general information about smoke from wildfire and prescribed fires as well as some specific resources to prepared you and your loved ones for wildfire season. Stay tuned to next week’s Wildfire Wednesday newsletter for more information!

Our speaker, Ali Lerch, has a wealth of experience ranging from a Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator in Ashland, OR, to her current role as a Wildfire Program Manager with the non-profit Coalitions and Collaboratives. Ali hosts the smoke learning group within the national Fire Adapted Communities Network and has been deeply involved in community outreach efforts throughout her career.

Wildfire Wednesdays #46: House Bill 57 - After the Flames Webinar

Hi Fireshed Members,

As we focus on incremental progress toward wildfire preparedness, it is important to stop along the way to appreciate our successes. This week I want to focus on House Bill 57, which represents a big success towards our goals in the Fireshed landscape.

This Wildfire Wednesdays features:

• Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signs House bill 57, improving forest management and helping NM avoid catastrophic wildfires.

• After the Flames webinar: Understand Post-Fire Flood Risk Before the Fire

Best,

Gabe

Gov. signs bipartisan measure to improve forest management, help N.M. avoid catastrophic fires

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday signed into law House Bill 57, an important environmental measure that will help the state improve forest management amid a changing climate through prescribed burns, which will contribute to lessening the risk of catastrophic wildfire.

“The Prescribed Burning Act is an important proactive action for our state to ensure our forests and watersheds provide clean water and other benefits for future generations – while recognizing and mitigating the impacts of a changing climate,” said Gov. Lujan Grisham.

To read the full release, click here

After the Flames Webinar: Assisting Communities to Understand Post-Fire Flood Risk Before the Fire

YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TO START PLANNING

April 5th 2021 12:30 – 3:30pm mst,

Join experts from the Enginuity Engineering Solutions for a discussion of – What information is available to plan for post-fire flooding?

• How to update that information

• How to use publicly available models

• Use assessments to understand values at risk

Click here to learn more and to register.

Hi Fireshed Members,

With Southwest wildfire preparedness week at the end of this month (3/28 – (4/3), now is a great time to get ready for wildfire season in your home and community. This year, there are many excellent virtual resources. You can enjoy the webinars below from the comfort of your own couch. Take advantage of all the great information at your finger-tips and don’t forget to invite your friends, family, and neighbors to tune in.

This Wildfire Wednesday features:

• Proactive steps for individual and family preparedness webinar, tomorrow, March 11th

• Home Ignition Zone webinar Tuesday, March 16th at 6pm

• New Mexico State Forestry WUI fuels grant RFP and Non-federal lands fuels grant RFP start today, March 10th.

Best,

Gabe

NMSU Learning to Live with Fire webinar: Proactive steps for individual and family preparedness

Tomorrow, March 11th at 12pm

Guest Speaker Tom Dominguez, Santa Fe County Extension Agent

This informative lunch-hour webinar series from New Mexico State University Extension, Learning to Live with Fire, is going on every Thursday in the month of March. Tune in this week to learn how you and your family can get prepared for the upcoming fire season. Also, this talk will share information about now to identify and dispose of trees that have experienced insect and disease mortality. With this year’s drought conditions, we may be seeing more insect and disease mortality.  

For more information and to register, click here.

Home Ignition Zone webinar Tuesday, March 16th at 6pm

Please join us on Tuesday, March 16th at 6pm mst for a Home Ignition Zone Webinar with guest speaker Captain Jerry McAdams. Through this 1-hour webinar we hope to teach our audience some simple and effective ways to reduce the risk of home ignition from flames and embers. The webinar will take place on Facebook live and will be streaming from the FACNM Facebook as well as partner Facebook pages.  

Our guest speaker, Jerry McAdams, has over 20 years of experience working in the fire service. Jerry is a Senior Captain and NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist (CWMS) for the Boise Fire Department in Boise, Idaho.  

This webinar is part of an interagency campaign to promote wildfire preparedness in 2021, centering around the theme “Wildfire Preparedness is Year-Round," Fire Adapted New Mexico and will be hosting a monthly webinar series for March, April, and May.  

New Mexico State Forestry Division Requests Applications for their WUI Fuels and Non-Federal Lands Grant Programs

Today, March 10th, New Mexico State Forestry Division released the notice of funding opportunities and request for applications (RFA) to two grant programs: The FY22 Wildland Urban Interface Hazardous Fuels Grant, and the FY21 Non-Federal Lands Hazardous Fuels Grant.

For full grant program information, and to access the RFAs, click here.