The first fire campout was in 2021, the spring after the August fire. A small group of friends gathered in the middle of the largest area of severe burn. They took a hike into a burned area to see natural recovery, a walk with Adam Canter, botanist for the Wiyot Tribe, right near camp to learn about Indian use and management of native plants, and heard a presentation from the Forest Service district archaeologist John Fable on post-fire archaeology. One participant described it as “casual but deep, with a volunteer spirit.”

Ryan Henson from the California Wilderness Coalition pointed out landmarks in a burned part of the Yolla Bolly Wilderness. Tritelia laxa, a type of “Indian potato,” was blooming under fire-killed Douglas firs near the campsite.

In 2022, a larger group came together. Speakers included Matt Simmons from the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) on the laws pertaining to national forest logging, and Doug Bevington from Environment Now on “Myths of Prescribed Fire.” His excellent article summarizing the issues can be read here: https://rewilding.org/myths-of-prescribed-fire-the-watering-can-that-pretends-to-be-a-river/ Participants studied the BAER (Burned Area Emergency Response) map of soil damage severity. Two field trips took people into burned forest areas to explore natural recovery. While conifers had heavy losses, everything else, from oaks to shrubs to grasses and bulbs, was growing back. Elderberries were sending up fresh shoots. Reverse engineering what happened where a big stump burned out. We looked at maps of Douglas-fir invasion in the North Fork Eel. Douglas-fir spreads quickly in the absence of frequent fire, and the dense young trees contribute to heavy fuel loading and dangerous conflagrations. Oaks, on the other hand, recover well from even severe fire, sprouting from the base. Their colorful young leaves will turn green as spring progresses. Despite the loss of tens of thousands of acres of Douglas-fir, the ecosystem is healthy enough to support apex predators such as coyotes and mountain lions.

After ISF and Garberville Rotary hosted a biochar demonstration, All Fired Up, on Dec 8, 2018, many people asked for an event with broader considerations of carbon, community preparedness, more biochar, prescribed burn information and other fire issues. Now with the Governor's proclaiming a Wildfire State of Emergency, hundreds of millions of state fund dollars dedicated to prepare for future fire ignitions, ISF decided to sponsor a second event, Embracing Fire 2019, Saturday, May 11th, 9 am to 4 pm at the Mateel Community Center in Redway.

ISF is creating a festive, family oriented, and community gathering to promote confident preparation for fire safely. Our goal is to enhance community and agency co-operation for our civil defense and biospheric preservation. We are bringing local, state and Federal agencies together to meet with the pubic. Presentations will include accounts of the recent years massive fires and how we can prepare and prevent them in our region. We will also present information from speakers, literature, vendors and agency exhibits[including work and career info], and an exploration of funding sources for personal, homestead and community projects as well as having fuel reduction practitioners and contractors.It’s the day before Mother’s Day and Moms and their kids will not be left out.Smokie the Bear will even be there. Kids will be welcome to the kids corner, and even to explore a fire engine. There will be stories, playing, art supplies, a biochar fire pit and music.Conversations before, between, and after presentations and around exhibits may be the most informative and influential element of the event. I hope you can attend and invite your world. ISF is pleased to offer Embracing Fire 2019. We would like the public to attend and speak out.We will have continental style breakfast at 9 am, low cost lunch after the morning session, and towards the end beer, beverages, and cross pollinating discussions. We offer a first drink free to all fire personnel who are wearing their fire affiliation.