Fire Salvage Begins

Posted on September 25, 2012 by foresterartist

Burned timber being skidded into the landing.

The race is on. Salvage operations on the Ponderosa Burn are now underway. They race to harvest the fire killed timber and deliver it to the mills before it breaks down, and loses it’s value. The small landowners managed their timberlands to provide additional income, maintain healthy timber stands, and create an attractive forest. This fire has changed their management plans. If they don’t recover the value of the timber they will have no money for reforestation. The large timber companies will replant their lands as a part of normal operations. Replanting fire damaged timberlands in California is not required by law due to the massive cost it represents. The timber companies replant after these fires because it is good stewardship and good business.

The landscape on the big canvas is being repainted as this latest transformation begins. Fire was the first paint brush to change the canvas. Men and their machines are the next one.

A load of fire salvage poles arrives at the mill.

Ponderosa Fire, Aug 21, 2012

Posted on August 22, 2012 by foresterartist

The Ponderosa Fire is still going strong on Tuesday evening.

Wildfire Returns to Northern California

Posted on August 21, 2012 by foresterartist

The Ponderosa Fire from across the valley.

Fire is upon the North State once again. It has been a few years since we have had fire like this. Thousands of our neighbors have had to evacuate their homes. The air is thick with smoke. The firefighters, air attack, and equipment operators battle the fires to protect life and property. Please keep the folks in the paths of these fire in you thoughts and prayers.

From Firestorm In The Forest, a Redtail Publishing Book.

I opened my front door this morning to let the dog out, and the air is clouded with smoke and the smell or fire is strong. The Ponderosa Fire is burning about 15 miles from where I am sitting. As this drama unfolds the picture of the forest that I worked on for years is rapidly changing. Thinned timberstands, young tree plantations and acres of mature forests that I help manage. For people the fire is a tragedy, but to nature it isn’t good or bad only different. Nature is violently changing the picture of this forest that I remember. It will re-calibrate and fill the void created by the fire and a new picture is created. In the meantime the foresters and loggers work side by side with firefighters to stop this fire.