Mauriça Anderson

Pathologically optimistic about embodied land management. Lover of chaparral, cultural burning, and wisdom. Chronically ill/awesome. Views my own.

[Zeke Lunder ~ The Lookout @wildland_zko]

A good overview of California's salmon crisis, and an ongoing lack of action/oversight from California's state government by @DanielleVenton. https://t.co/Q7rTcD2PhH

[Susie Kocher @UCsierraforest]

“The problem that we’re dealing with in California — and really the West — is vast...There’s plenty of room for other tools in the toolbox.” This is the robot that is scorching California’s fire-prone landscape https://t.co/Rju7i0RB1V via @sfchronicle

[The Hotshot Wake Up @HotshotWake]

Remembering The Granite Mountain Hotshots: 10 Years Ago Promises Were Made.

The Hotshot Wake Up
(Original Article link in my bio)
#wildfire

If you were a wildland firefighter the year the Yarnell Fire rolled over the top of the Granite Mountain Hotshots, you remember where you were when that news came. I was in Colorado with the Lone Peak Hotshots. Our assignment on that fire was a relatively simple but shitty one. We were asked to assess and complete structure protection and build a fireline around a billionaire’s house in the middle of nowhere.

When we got back to fire camp, we did what we’d always done for countless fires before this one. The buggies were parked, the chocks were put down, and we lined out for chow. It was evident by the time we got to the caterer’s trailer that something unusual was happening. Camp was very hush. The laughing and loud voices in the dinner tent were muffled and silent. The squadies and our Supt had a miniature circle up at the back of our chow line. This was not uncommon, but their eyes told a different story this time.

I was a Lead at the time, and I sat next to my Squadie with our plates of Saulsberry steak, green beans, and what we were able to pile on from the salad bar. I asked “Frenchie” quite candidly, “What the fuck is going on?”
He told me something terrible happened, and the crew would circle up after dinner to discuss it. I remember him telling me, “Nothing like this has ever happened before.” I knew firefighters had died at that point, but I had no idea what the circumstances were, how many, and who they were.

We all circled up after dinner, and the news was brought to us. We were told that there would be a national operational standdown the next day and that we should all reach out to our families to let them know we were ok. This was 2013, and people still had flip phones. We hit the line the next day after a moment of silence; after years of thinking about it, that was much better than sitting in the buggies all day.

Everyone was baffled and shocked at how this could even happen. Folks struggled to understand how an entire crew could have ended up in a situation like this.

The Yarnell Hill Fire started near Yarnell, Arizona, after a lightning strike on June 28, 2013. On June 30, it overran and killed 19 members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots.
I would be lying to you if I said this wasn’t a controversial topic sometimes in the wildfire world. Plenty of Hotshots and operational folks have strong personal opinions on the matter. Everyone is entitled to that, and I’ve listened to many.

This was quite literally a national tragedy. It shook everyone. It was the deadliest fire for U.S. wildland firefighters since the 1933 Griffith Park fire, which killed 29 civilian firefighters who were drafted on short notice to help fight a fire near Los Angeles. The entire nation was taken aback by the news out of Yarnell, Arizona.

The Vice President at the time even traveled and spoke at the funeral of the firefighters, and the procession was nationally televised. We were told things needed to change, and they were right. We were told that for far too long, “forestry technicians” have been underpaid, under-recognized, undervalued, and forgotten when help was needed most.

Today is the 10-year anniversary of this national tragedy. Wildland firefighters are still classified as “forestry technicians,” pay increases still linger in Congress, and the man who spoke at their funerals is now President.

I call on this man, the President of the United States, to honor the 19 fallen Hotshots and fulfill promises that were made 10 years ago.

Today is a day of remembrance. It is a day to honor the Granite Mountain Hotshots. Men that lost their lives in the most horrific way imaginable. Burned alive trying to save property in their local community.

Ten years ago, promises were made. Wildland Firefighters are still waiting for them to be kept. They can’t hold their breath much longer.
God Bless

[Mauriça Anderson @Maurica_And]

@CaseyKulla I couldn’t agree more about joy, and I’ll add that what we need to share most is our LOVE of the land in it’s many iterations. I keep asking myself “in my community, how can we re-engage humanity with the land?” Adults will only learn what they think is important, so… ?

[Mauriça Anderson @Maurica_And]

I find humanity’s preference for “good/ideal” seral stages fascinating. Disturbance is the only constant

[Mauriça Anderson @Maurica_And]

As the parent of a transkid who experienced astronomical bullying in one of our local schools, I can see that we have a LOT of work to do.

[The Tribune @SLOTribune]

“This is not about ‘wokeness.’ This is about human decency,” writes The Tribune Editorial Board. https://t.co/hgfJJJuuuW

[Susie Kocher @UCsierraforest]

“Californians are desperate to have a better relationship with fire, and only with innovative approaches like this claims fund will we be able to unleash the good work that needs to happen...It's challenging to be working on fire in California, but also an incredibly inspiring.”

[Mauriça Anderson @Maurica_And]

Leo will be studying trombone this fall at @BCCMmusic with plans to become a conductor #proudmom

[Mauriça Anderson @Maurica_And]

My son’s high school graduation ceremony was exciting enough - and then he was honored by the principal as a “young @GustavoDudamel” https://t.co/QXKICrCDi0

[Mauriça Anderson @Maurica_And]

@lowseverityfire @ucanr @lenyaqd YAY & congrats! I’m dreaming of a UCCE fire advisor position here in SLO County sooner than later - keep you posted & I’m all ears for any advice 🔥🤞🏼

[Mauriça Anderson @Maurica_And]

TOMORROW in Cambria 🔥

[Fire Safe Council of San Luis Obispo @FireSafeSLO]

Our Cambria Focus Group will be hosting a Fire Safety Event on SATURDAY May 6th at the Cambria Veteran’s Hall. (1000 Main St)
The event is FREE for all ages and begins at 9 AM and ends at 2 PM. Activities for all ages. Read More
https://t.co/HQnvnkyDSY

[Mauriça Anderson @Maurica_And]

Yowza!

[John Lindsey @PGE_John]

Christopher Payne photographed a funnel cloud over Cambria on March 29. #CAwx

[Mauriça Anderson @Maurica_And]

Oh, the irony 😑

#distraction #adhd #modernlife

[The Hotshot Wake Up @HotshotWake]

Some well timed tanker drops on Foresthill Road near the high school have held the fires progression so far. Thanks to the subscriber who sent this footage in. Beautiful drop by @Ten_Tanker #mosquitofire #wildfire #California #Tahoe #Eldorado

[Mauriça Anderson @Maurica_And]

Whatta beaut!

[Liminal Susurrations @san_surname]

Such a stunning #raptor perched above the San Joaquin Valley.

#FireCamBirds

https://t.co/9wJXTOAJjx

[Mauriça Anderson @Maurica_And]

Who’s going to give this a listen with me?

[The Hotshot Wake Up @HotshotWake]

New episode out tomorrow morning and available to everyone on our Substack, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts. #elmofire #mcKinneyfire #wildfire #podcasts #fire #hotshots #california #montana #cowcanyonfire #cedarcreekfire #yetifire

[Mauriça Anderson @Maurica_And]

Wild shot of these fascinating creatures

[Liminal Susurrations @san_surname]

Another #CaliforniaCondor from the Blue Mtn Kern2 camera. These #FireCamBirds are amazing!

https://t.co/Oszk1t0lhi

@FireCamBirds

[Miranda Redmond @miranda_redmond]

Great op-ed article in the @latimes by @Pyrogeographer, Scott Stephens, and Sara Clark on the need for cultural and prescribed burning to create resilient fire-adapted forests in the western US.

https://t.co/UhzPBoVGpr

[Mauriça Anderson @Maurica_And]

Yiiiiiikes #McKinneyFire

[Zeke Lunder ~ The Lookout @wildland_zko]

Another view on this morning's explosive growth on #McKinneyFire. 09:30-10:30am, 7/3-/22 - Ft. Jones webcam.