One of my favorite walking trails is getting a “spring cleaning” with a prescribed burn. I was bummed that I couldn’t walk my favorite haunt, but then I realized I had free will and could walk elsewhere, so I ambled away.
I thought back to 2014 when the 2014 Carlton Complex fires burned to the edge of the 2012 fire and I felt relief. When the 2006 Tripod fire encountered burn scars from wildfires in 2003, 2001, 1994 and 1970, the Tripod fire stopped at the burn borders.
The prescribed burn idea is rooted in generations of practice and sound research. Healthy forests protect our resources and communities from catastrophic wildfires. Dr. Susan J. Prichard co-led a team of researchers from tribal nations, universities, U.S. Forest Service, consulting groups, Parks Canada, and more to outline a partnership of forest stewardship. The resulting report is used to inform USDA Forest Service of fire adaptive management practices. The report and interactive map are online at https://adaptiveforeststewardship.org/.
For prescribed fire maps and updates, check the forest website: www.fs.usda.gov/main/okawen/fire.
The prescribed burn was a good reminder to do spring cleaning around our home: check irrigation lines and hoses, move firewood away from the home, clear flammable debris from rain gutters, and clear weeds to create a safe buffer.
Spring cleaning inside the home has reached a new challenge level with a mouse invasion. It began one morning when I found a mouse lounging on my hairbrush. Much chaos ensued. That evening, I pulled a fresh set of pajamas out of my PJ drawer and birdseed poured all over my feet. One morning, Husband awoke, screamed, and ran to the door to fling his bedside glass of water — and the mouse who took a plunge — outside. Yesterday, I left an open beverage container of tea in the car. When I returned to the car, I heard weird noises coming from the can. I thought it was a bug. I set the can on the ground and tipped it over. A soaking wet mouse crawled out. Later, I rummaged through a bag of stationary for a birthday card and found a mouse nest made out of holiday cards. Christmas is ruined and it’s not even June. Forget a cruise ship of hantavirus — the virus is a greeting card from yours truly.
For guidance on Firewise spring cleaning around your home, two invaluable organizations are here to help: Fire Adapted Methow (FAM) and the North Cascades Prescribed Burn Association (NCBA). FAM works with communities through financial and educational programs to prepare for wildfires, visit www.fireadaptedmethow.org/. NCBA offers coordination with agencies and private landowners to safely conduct a prescribed burn on private land. Visit https://wapba.org/pba/north-cascades-pba/.
For other spring-cleaning volunteer opportunities in the valley, check out the test site for Volunteer Methow! There are already spots available to assist clean-up efforts at Mill Hill, Homestream Park, x̌ʷnámx̌ʷnam, and Meadowlark Trail. Visit https://beta.volunteermethow.org/.
