February 1, 2018 National Wildland Fire Potential Outlook

February 2018 National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook

We are in good shape being out of season with reasonable moisture – snowpack is around 123% of normal for the Flathead.  I was just in Albuquerque last week, and they are in continued drought with their ski area unable to open because they have more bare ground than they do snow cover.  Grim.  Jackson Wyoming just cancelled a Skijoring event due to lack of snow as well.

I’ll keep you posted as things change going into the spring and continue into the fire season.  Fire season will be what it is, of course, but it is interesting to me to see how other parts of the country are being set up for active fire season.  That obviously affects availability of resources nationally when we do get active.
Be thankful we have as much snow as we  do.  It can’t hurt.

Here is the link to the February 1 National Wildland Fire Potential Outlook that covers February, March and April:

https://www.nifc.gov/nicc/predictive/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

Thanks!  Allen

North Fork stalwart and NFPA board member Alan McNeil dies

Alan R. McNeil – courtesy Cecily McNeil

The North Fork Preservation Association has a story about Alan McNeil that begins… Alan Rideout McNeil died of a heart attack on the 29th of December, 2017. The family wish to thank the neighbors, the Sheriff’s department, and the Coroner, all of whom were most helpful in the midst of the recent blizzard conditions. Read the full story here.

There will be a gathering on the North Fork this summer in Alan’s memory. Alan will certainly be missed.

Alan McNeil has Passed

We just received word that Alan McNeil, dear friend of the North Fork, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on Friday. Our hearts go out to Cecily, Bruce, and especially Alan’s daughter Fiona. Alan was a good neighbor and active member of the NFLA. He will be greatly missed.

Champion of the North Fork John Frederick dies

John Frederick at the 1987 Polebridge Forth of July parade
John Frederick at the 1987 Polebridge Forth of July parade John Frederick at the 1987 Polebridge Forth of July parade

John Frederick at the 1987 Polebridge Forth of July paradeJohn Frederick, champion of the North Fork and a founder of the North Fork Preservation Association, died today following a long illness. John passed away peacefully, his final weeks filled with the affection, laughter and tears of friends, family and well-wishers.

Here is John’s obituary, written by long-time friend and North Fork historian Lois Walker.

Long-time Polebridge resident and champion of the North Fork, John Frederick, Jr., passed away on November 15. He was 74.

He was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1943, to John and Betty Watson Frederick. He attended school in Marion, Ohio, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English from The Ohio State University. He served in the U.S. Army from 1966 to 1969, stationed for almost two years in Alaska. Continue reading Champion of the North Fork John Frederick dies

Family, Forests and the Future

From the Flathead Beacon

The Flathead Beacon has a wonderful article about our good neighbors the Chrismans and the good work that they’re doing. It starts… NORTH FORK — To accompany siblings Allen Chrisman and Kari Wiley in the Chrisman Family Forest is less of a nature walk than it is a meander through the woods to meet old friends. Read the full story here.

2017 NFLA Fall Newsletter

The 2017 NFLA Fall Newsletter comes to you courtesy of the North Fork Landowners Association (NFLA).  A copy of the newsletter is sent out every fall to NFLA members reminding them to renew their membership and includes a membership renewal form as well as a letter from the NFLA President.

We invite you to join us! Membership dues are only $15 a year per person. Your dues are important to us. They help us maintain the Community Hall and organize lots of exciting activities that bring the community together. We have activities for everyone, whether you are interested in reading, gardening, hiking, biking, dancing, birding, or floating the river.  We hope to see you at NFLA activities this fall/winter including Thanksgiving day dinner.  More information about joining the NFLA may be found here.

Get a copy of the current newsletter and access to past newsletters on the NFLA Newsletter page.

2017 Annual Financial Report Available for Review

Treasurer Chris Heitz reports that the Annual Financial Report for the 2017 fiscal year has been audited and is now ready for your review. Read the full report here.

Thank you, Chris, for all of your hard work throughout the year. And thanks to the Audit Committee who performed the audit!

Don’t forget, you can get access to all of the associations documents including this report on the Documents/Meeting Minutes page.

Thank You for the Sunshine Committee

Here’s a message from Tom Marx… Thank you, Bonnie Ogle, of the Sunshine Committee for the Card and thoughts. I crashed a motorcycle on the first day of my “Once in a Lifetime” trip through the Alps. I managed to ride an hour and a half into a two week trip. It still was “A trip of a Lifetime”. I am in physical therapy now for a stretched and twisted left knee and ankle. Thanks again for the card and for thinking of me.

Final NFLA Business Meeting of the Year – Oct. 8

Message from Treasurer Chris Heitz… Our last NFLA meeting of the season is Sunday, Oct 8.  Larry Wilson will be showing some of his wonderful slides at 7PM, and the meeting will be at 8PM.  We are asking our members to bring donations of canned goods for the Food Bank or the Veterans Pantry, and of course, monetary donations are also welcomed.  This 70th Anniversary summer has been one of the best and we hate to see it end, but our new Board is already planning events for next summer!  If anyone has ideas or suggestions for next year, please email Chris Heitz at treasurer@nflandowners.org and they will be forwarded to the Social Committee.  Thank you so much for your past support, and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday, October 8, and next year.

National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy September Newsletter

An Assessment of Wildfire Transmission and its Implications for Risk Governance
An Assessment of Wildfire Transmission and its Implications for Risk Governance

We thought that North Forkers would be interested in reading the Western Region National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy September Newsletter. It begins…

This has been a particularly tough season for stakeholders in the West. Cohesive Strategy’s Western Region and its partners are leading the charge to facilitate identification and implementation of collaborative, cross-boundary solutions to the complex, landscape-level issues we are facing today. The Cohesive Strategy is the right framework from which to continue to build social, political and scientific support to address these issues. Change will not occur overnight but together we can change the trajectory that can be plainly observed in recent fire seasons.

In this issue:

  • Collaborative Landscape Planning and Fuels Reduction Pays Off
  • “Why I Burned My Property and How I Shot It”
  • Public – Private Partnerships Paying Off During Montana Fires
  • An Assessment of Wildfire Transmission and its Implications for Risk Governance
  • Teaching Fire with Fire
  • Increases in Wildfire-Caused Erosion Can Impact Water Supply and Quality
  • What the Joint Fire Science Program Can Do for You
  • Upcoming Learning Opportunities

Tap here to read the full newsletter.