In October, NCPBA conducted a small, 0.8-acre prescribed burn on the de la Foret property. Favorable weather and fuel conditions aligned, creating ideal circumstances for a successful burn and provided abundant training opportunities.
Participants gained hands-on training through live, on-site instruction from current and retired fire personnel. All phases of the burn—including preparation, ignition, holding, and mop-up—were demonstrated and discussed prior to execution.
The location of this burn creates a black line for future planned burns, providing a buffer between national forest lands and private properties. This burned unit is one of four that, once completed, will help protect against potential wildfires spreading.
The burn was made possible through key partnerships with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Resource Conservation and Development Council, which provided the necessary tools and equipment for safe and effective prescribed burning. The PBA was supported by numerous neighbors and volunteers, who played an essential role in making this burn a success.
Hear from the landowner, Xavier, about the experience below!
When we first moved to the Methow 20 years ago I had just read Tending the Wild, which describes how Native People have used fire as a tool to meet various objectives. I remember thinking that a lot of places in the valley would really benefit from prescribed fire but I never thought there was anything I could do about it. But everything changed last year when I heard that Sam wanted to start a Prescribed Burn Association. And after a year of learning and planning I was so happy to bring fire to our property.
Our primary objectives were to remove dead surface fuels to make our forest more resilient to wildfires and to provide learning opportunities for those of us who want to work with fire. With the generous support of the DNR and a host of volunteers, including experienced professionals, we built control lines and set a hose lay around a 1-acre unit.
We knew good and safe burn windows were going to be very narrow so we kept a careful eye on the weather. One day, the DNR informed us that burn restrictions were being lifted, the weather looked good for adequate burning conditions and good smoke dispersal, and rain was in the forecast in the following days. So we all got together on a Friday morning, got ready, and lit a test fire.
The humidity was a little high for the fire to really take. “We’re going to have to heat this up” Tom told me. And so with drip torches in hand we started setting more fire on the ground. Progress was very slow at first but the fire started drying things up and heat built up to an appropriate level. Seeing fire consume all the dead wood on the ground while safely being contained within our lines was truly satisfying.
I’m very grateful to all the people who contributed to bringing fire back to an ecosystem that truly needs it. I can’t wait for the next good burn opportunities so we can keep on using prescribed fire on the rest of our property. And I can’t wait to see the lasting ecological benefits that that fire will bring to the land.
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