My roots run deep in Towns County, Georgia. My grandfather was born here in the Blue Ridge Mountains in 1889, and in fact, he was Towns County’s first county extension agent. Today, my wife and I live on his old farm, with the scenic… Read More

If you’re wondering how to engage your community on National Community Wildfire Preparedness Day (#WildfirePrepDay, or Prep Day), look no further. Take this short quiz to find out what project(s) fit your needs and interests, and also get access to… Read More

Just as quickly as the Thomas Fire swept through parts of our community, the questions started flooding my office: Should we prune our burned avocado trees? Can I graze my cattle on burned pastures, and if not, how can I increase my forage production… Read More

I was nine years old when my dad’s family home burned in the Oakland Hills Fire. As a country kid from one of the most fire-prone counties in northern California, I was no stranger to wildfire. Still, I remember the shock of driving through his… Read More

In 2015, several Project Wildfire steering committee members attended the National Fire Protection Association’s Backyards and Beyond Conference. A common theme of the conference was that many of the nationally recognized Firewise USA™ sites… Read More

What did you do before working on community wildfire resilience? During my first career, I worked for the USDA Forest Service. My last job with them was on the San Juan National Forest as a public affairs specialist for their Fire and Fuels… Read More

During my youth, apple maggot quarantine signs were as abundant along state highways as broken down station wagons. If someone failed to show up at camp or a ball game, some kid would often explain their absence with a nonchalant, “that’ll teach… Read More

“White Swan is a small community on the Yakama Nation in south central Washington State. It is considered a major population center on the Yakama reservation and is categorized as being high fire risk. The immediate landscape is a mix between… Read More

When you get to work on Monday morning, what are your top priorities for the week? I spend my first hour addressing any pressing things that have come up over the weekend. I try to meet with at least one of Ashland’s 25 Firewise Communities each… Read More

May 6th marked the 4th annual National Wildfire Community Preparedness Day (Prep Day). The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a primary catalyst of this event each year; through State Farm, they provide $500 grants for community events… Read More