Johnson Burn

The last burn of spring took place just before the official start of fire season, and it was the RVPBA’s first in the Illinois Valley. We responded to a moderate turnout(hard to compete with Memorial Weekend!) by shrinking our original plan to a smaller unit right next to the homeowner’s residence. Safety demands that we be flexible and adjust decisions based on weather conditions, available resources, and other factors. The smaller unit still provided ample training opportunities and a conversation starter for how more burning can take place in the area. 

We were again pleased to welcome personnel from various agencies includingODF, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and IV Fire. The landowner, Cheryl Johnson, was delighted with the outcomes and we all very much enjoyed working with her to take care of her small piece of heaven. 

NOTE: As we write this, the Smith River Complex is approaching O'Brien. Firefighters surveying potentially threatened structures praised Cheryl for the work she's done to prepare her house and property. We hope the fire never gets close to O'Brien and to be given more time to prepare this and many other rural homes and communities for wildfire.