Presented by Dr. Susan Prichard (Fire Ecologist, University of Washington School of Environmental and Forest Sciences)

Wildfire seasons are growing longer and more severe in north-central Washington. As a fire ecologist, I have lived and worked in the Methow Valley for nearly 20 years. The forests I study span much of the inland western US and Canada. Across this varied region, summer wildfires are on the rise, often leaving large patches of dead forest that must start again by seed, generally under much warmer and drier conditions. The pace of change is alarming an erosion of old and mature forests and in drier sites, conversion of post-fire forests to grasslands and sparse woodlands.

Through decades of applied research, we now know that forest restoration and fuel reduction treatments work. Although climate change is contributing to drier conditions, proactive forest management including thinning and prescribed burning can change fire outcomes. In this presentation, we will review recent wildfire seasons in north-central Washington and the proactive work that we can do to bette live with fire.

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