Required Class vblog

For this weeks blog I watched three videos from class and chose to compare and contrast them to each other and class material. The first video I watched was “Becoming a Wildland Firefighter”. This video went over the procedures and drills that made up a new wildland firefighter’s initial training. It breezed through the types of tools and tactics that are employed at fire scenes as well as explained the expectations that come about when you decide this career path. Based on readings, the notes from class, and general knowledge of the destructive power of fire itself it is no small feat to make this career choice.

The second video I watched was the “Pioneer Fire Salvage on the Boise Idaho Forest”. This video goes over the different some of the post fire operations that occur to restore forest areas and the natural environment. This could be reforestation, salvation logging efforts, breaking up soil, etc. It goes on to explain that salvation logging money often goes back into the funds for other projects that may be required in the future for that site to maintain a healthy reforestation and habitat. Though it should be noted that from this weeks presentation salvation logging efforts are not always profitable based on the type and age of the trees that are being logged.

The final video I watched was the “Cow Fire: Proactive Fire Management in Action”. This video pertained to how the Cow Fire actually created a better forest ecosystem that allowed for better fire management and fighting in the future. When it was ignited monitoring and discussions about the impact, current and future, were ongoing and changing the whole time the fire burned keeping the flow of information constantly up to date. Due to this flow of information, containment lines and the fact that fire activity in other regions were low, this fire was able to be treated as a prescribed burn, though its ignition was unplanned. Based on the constant flow of information and available resources this fire, I believe, is a great indicator of how fire management can be done in a safe and productive way for people and the environment.

I think the differing views of the two articles can be boiled down to simple history. The idea that light burning could cause massive environmental issues is something that, by now I sincerely hope, is gaining popularity. The understading that groups were managing the land far ealier than european settlers is, I think a great historical stopping point. The first article by the USFS goes over the history but does not go far enough back which I think is the fallacy of that article.