NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 37
A wildfire life
Aron and I flew from Denver to Sacramento,
grabbed a rental car, and made
the 90-minute drive up to Grizzly Flats.
The higher into the hills we drove, the
denser and taller the trees became.
The fall colors were beautiful. That
all faded, though, as we approached
the area where the fire started. Several
miles south of Grizzly Flats, the
landscape transitioned rapidly from
autumn woodland to a vast moonscape;
previously healthy forest was reduced
to little more than charred poles sticking
out of the blackened ground. We
saw an occasional home, or cluster of
homes, that had made it through the
fire, but all that remained of most were
empty foundations with stone chimneys
poking from the rubble. The shells
of burned-out vehicles littered the
landscape. The mood in the car turned
somber as we took it all in.
Before the arrival of the moonscape,
though, our drive had reminded me
of childhood trips to McCall, Idaho,
where my grandparents had
lived when I was a kid and
where my wildfire journey
began. McCall is a small
town located a couple of
hours north of Boise in the
Payette National Forest. The
attractions are obvious: fresh
air, trees, open spaces, mountains,
solitude. For some it's
home, and for many others
it's a weekend getaway. As
in Grizzly Flats, homes in
McCall are spread throughout
the landscape, many surrounded
by dense vegetation.
A mix of building materials
and roofing types are used on
structures, some fire resistant
and some not. Evacuation
routes are limited; the only
major road running through
McCall is state highway 55.
The prevalence of second
homes and absent landowners
means properties may not
be as prepared for a wildfire
event as they need to be.
My family would visit
McCall from our home in
Rainier, Washington, in the
summers, and it was on those trips that
I was introduced to wildfire. Summer
storms would travel across the mountains
bringing lightning and thunder,
leaving wildfires in their paths. Over
the following days and sometimes
I still saw firefighting
as vitally important,
but I wanted to move to a
role that helped protect
people, homes, and
communities ahead of a
fire so we didn't have to
put firefighters in that
position to begin with.
weeks, we watched as helicopters and
airplanes passed overhead on their
way to engage the fires. The impressive
response got my attention; in my child's
imagination, I began to think that I
wanted to be involved in fighting those
wildfires, too.
Wildfire was already a family affair.
After retiring from the military in the
1970s, my grandfather, Martin, went
to work for what is now known as the
National Interagency Fire Center in
Boise, coordinating the movement of
crews and other resources to wildfires
throughout the region. When he moved
his family to McCall, he worked for
the Payette National Forest in a similar
capacity. My grandmother, Betty,
also worked for the forest service. One
season when we stayed with them, my
mom, Jeanine, worked at the nearby
fire cache, a warehouse with a supply of
fire equipment assembled in preparation
for fire suppression efforts.
After my first year of college at Washington
State University, I returned to
McCall for the summer to work on a
Youth Conservation Corps crew. Most
of our jobs were hard manual labor,
but they exposed us to aspects of natural
resource management, including
prepping areas for prescribed fires. I
wanted to be more directly involved
The author during operations on a wildfire in 2013. Firefighting introduced
her to the complex relationship between wildfire and the built environment,
she writes, experience that is crucial in her work helping communities
prepare and protect themselves against wildfire.
NFPA .ORG/JOURNAL * NFPA JOURNAL | 37
http://nfpa.org/journal
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - Summer 2022
Contents
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - Cover1
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - Cover2
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 1
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - Contents
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 3
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 4
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 5
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 6
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 7
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 8
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 9
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 10
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 11
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 12
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 13
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 14
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 15
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 16
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 17
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 18
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 19
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 20
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 21
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 22
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 23
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 24
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 25
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 26
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 27
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 28
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 29
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 30
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 31
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 32
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 33
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 34
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 35
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 36
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 37
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 38
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 39
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 40
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 41
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 42
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 43
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 44
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 45
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 46
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 47
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 48
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 49
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 50
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 51
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 52
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 53
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 54
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 55
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 56
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 57
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 58
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 59
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 60
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 61
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 62
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 63
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 64
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 65
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 66
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 67
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 68
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 69
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 70
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 71
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 72
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 73
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 74
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 75
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 76
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 77
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 78
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 79
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 80
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 81
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 82
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 83
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 84
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 85
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 86
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 87
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 88
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 89
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 90
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 91
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 92
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 93
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 94
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 95
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 96
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 97
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 98
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 99
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 100
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 101
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 102
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 103
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 104
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 105
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 106
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 107
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 108
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 109
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 110
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 111
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 112
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 113
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 114
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 115
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 116
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 117
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 118
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 119
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 120
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 121
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 122
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 123
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 124
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 125
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 126
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 127
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 128
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 129
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 130
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 131
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 132
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 133
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 134
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 135
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - 136
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - Cover3
NFPA Journal - Summer 2022 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2024fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2024summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2024spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2023spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2022spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_2021spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_201610_sprinkler
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20121112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/nfpa/journal_20120304
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com