Reflection by ML

            The first morning of the 2013 Fire Ecology Institute opened with a discussion led by the Assistant District Forester for the Woodland Park District, Dave Root.  “Ecosystems are no longer ‘natural’ because we have impacted them so drastically, so we MUST manage them because they can no longer manage themselves . . . WUI (Wildland Urban Interface) is expected to increase by 300% to ~2.2 million acres by 2030 . . .”  These words set the stage for the entire Institute. 

            Throughout the week, I was continuously floored by logical connections and cause-effect relationships that I had never considered.  For example, benefits of forest thinning include decreased mating success and breeding grounds for pine beetles, elimination of ladder fuels to prevent huge hot fires that plasticize the soil, and attractive foraging grounds and habitat for animals such as elk.  Furthermore, lack of moisture in Colorado means that fire is required to clear out dead trees and enhance soil nutrient cycling.  

            As a witness of the Waldo Canyon and Black Forest fires, I was anxious to hear about fire and flood mitigation suggested for homeowners and communities.  I was pleased to hear about the Fuels Management program enacted by the Colorado Springs Fire Department.  Amy Sylvester (CSFD) provided several useful suggestions regarding structural components of a property and its landscape. Theresa Springer (Coalition for the Upper South Platte) revealed several threats to a watershed in the aftermath of a fire.  Seeing sandbag walls around homes and “flying V” tree trunk arrangements in water drainages made me respect Mother’s Nature’s constant test of mankind’s engineering capabilities.  

            I greatly appreciated the field investigations/ activities and hikes involving dendrochronology, hydrophobic soil, local flora and fauna, and cutting a fire line.   Walking on burn scars is a very humbling experience . . . quite eerie at first until you find live beetles in burned tree bark!  Then you start to notice the islands of aspen growth springing back to life, and you realize that the hydrophobic soils you have been analyzing will eventually break apart.  Field trips brought our classroom discussions to life and emphasized the relevance & urgency of issues involving fire. 

            Every PLT activity we executed had several meaningful applications for every grade level.  The strong appeal of these activities is due to their highly visual and kinesthetic components that enable students to EXPERIENCE the concepts addressed.  Evening videos helped flesh out the history and evolution of fires and firefighting in the United States to explain how our current forests have come to be. 

            I left the Institute with a solid understanding of our roles as citizens and educators living in fire-ADAPTED communities.  I am very grateful for the expertise and inspiration that emanated from every professional that presented at the Institute.  The Institute is essential in preparing educators to reform the public’s perception of fire.  This reform starts with our most impressionable citizens . . . youth in public schools.