The Garnet fire in Fresno expanded by 20 square miles, crossing Dinkey Creek and threatening McKinley Grove. The fire is being driven by extreme fuel loading, inaccessible terrain, and long-range spotting. The fire’s intensity is attributed to the lack of recent fire history, and heavy drought-induced tree mortality, which has left extremely loading of dead and down fuels. The fire’s progression was monitored via Delilah and Fence Meadow cameras, and by IR mapping of the fire from the night of 9/6, an IR satelliteimage taken at noon on 9/7, and IR flights at 13:30 and 16:30 on 9/7.

The discussion also covered the broader implications of fire management, including the role of private timberland owners, the impact of climate change, and the challenges of prescribed fire implementation. The conversation highlighted the need for comprehensive forest management strategies that are focused on what the fuels look like after the logging is complete. Zeke Lunder discusses the complexities of forestry and biomass energy, highlighting the economic challenges of financing new power plants, and the need for long-term sources of fuels to keep the plants running over the life of the investment in the plant. He notes that biomass power plants don’t pencil out without subsidies being paid to the operators. Lunder emphasizes the need for sustainable logging practices to manage fuel loads and reduce fire hazards. He mentions the historical role of logging in creating today’s overstocked forests, and how the removal of the largest trees has created more fire-prone forest structures. Lunder also highlights the need for community involvement in forest management and advocates for better education on sustainable practices. He promotes his website for more in-depth discussions on forest management and ecology.

Garnet Fire Overview and Initial Discussion

• Zeke Lunder introduces the Lookout Sunday edition, focusing on the Garnet Fire in Fresno.
• The Garnet fire has significantly increased in size, adding about 20 square miles today.
• Zeke discusses the geography of the central and southern Sierra, including the Kings River and Dinkey Creek.
• The fire has been active near Dinky Creek, with significant burning observed from the Delilah camera.

Fire Operations and Geographic Context

• Zeke explains the firing operations along the road and the north end of the fire.
• The current fire spread is aided by long-range spotting. The biggest obstacle to containment of the fire is the lack of access.
• The fire has made a significant run into the area below McKinley Grove.

Fire Behavior and Contingency Lines

• The fire crossed Dinkey Creek and a large area has burned burn up the slope towards and around Oak Flat campground.
• The fire has been dramatic to watch on the Fence Meadow camera, with significant burning observed.
• A contingency line has been built to try to hold the fire, with infrared flights showing the fire hasn’t crossed it in a big way.
• The fire is likely to burn all the way to Camp Fresno, with no significant structures in the immediate area.

Private Industry and Fire Management

• Zeke discusses the role of private industry in managing forests and the challenges they face.
• The timber industry has been doing significant work in salvage logging and replanting after large fires in the past 15 years.
• The industry is facing challenges in managing forests due to the impact of climate change and their inability to use fire as a management tool.
• The industry is receiving more grant money to do fuel breaks and replanting in recently burned areas.

Historical Context and Legal Challenges

• The Moonlight Fire in 2007 led to significant legal wrangling between Sierra Pacific Industries and Federal government.
• The fire started on private land and burned federal land, leading to a $100 million fine for Sierra Pacific Industries.
• The legal precedent has made private timber companies hesitant to burn on their land.
• The industry has been largely-focused on cutting dead trees killed by the fires of the past decade, leaving limited capacity to actively manage unburned lands, especially on smaller landholdings.

Future of Fire Management and Prescribed Fire

• Zeke discusses the need for prescribed fire and thinning to manage forests, he posits that one of the only good reasons to do large fuel breaks in remote areas is to be able to burn the lands adjacent to them.

On ‘Environmentalism’

Biomass Power Plants and Carbon Emissions

According to Zeke, national environmental groups like NRDC oppose biomass thinning primarily because they argue it’s not carbon neutral, and contributes to global warming. Zeke disagrees with this stance, suggesting that biomass harvesting can actually help preserve healthy forests by creating economic incentives for thinning and removing sub-merchantable wood that could fuel wildfires.
He criticizes these groups for taking a blanket position against biomass without considering the potential forest management benefits, especially in areas which are exposed to extreme fire hazards that still have green forests.

• Zeke Lunder discusses the survival of certain plants post-Dixie and the need for a comprehensive plan.
• He mentions the environmental impact of biomass power plants, which emit carbon dioxide.
• Zeke highlights the economic challenges of building and maintaining biomass power plants.
• The discussion includes the reliance on sub-merchantable wood and the impact of natural disasters like the Dixie fire on biomass plant operations.

Economic Feasibility of Biomass Plants

• Zeke explains that large biomass-energy plants in California were initially subsidized by utilities to make them economically viable.
• He emphasizes the high costs of moving and processing wood for biomass plants.
• The conversation touches on the need for subsidies to support biomass energy production.
• Zeke mentions the role of local plants in creating local power and reducing the need for high-voltage transmission lines.

Logging and Fire Management

• Zeke Lunder discusses the historical role of logging in reducing fire hazards.
• He explains the impact of climate change and fire suppression on modern fire risks on lands which were heavily logged in the 20th century.
• The conversation includes the need for sustainable logging practices to manage fuel loads.
• Zeke highlights the high costs of cleaning up slash and the reluctance of timber companies to invest in this process.

Community Involvement in Forest Management

• Zeke suggests encouraging public participation in forest management through activities like cutting small trees around campgrounds.
• He discusses the potential for community members to manage small-scale forest thinning.
• The conversation includes the need for basic knowledge and guidelines for public forest management.
• Zeke emphasizes the importance of active forest management to prevent fire hazards.
• Zeke suggests bringing back the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) or similar programs for forest management.

Promoting Forest Management Knowledge

• Zeke encourages people to visit the Lookout website for more information on forest management.
• He highlights the various topics covered on the website, including forest ecology and management history.
• The conversation includes a call for subscribers to support the Lookout’s work.
• Zeke mentions upcoming interviews and projects focused on forest management and ecology.