2023 Klamath TREX
For the first time in its 11-year history, KTREX was postponed, due to the Six Rivers Lightning Complex and other local fires. Each year, KTREX focuses on prescribed fire use for natural resource management, wildfire risk mitigation, cultural values, and training for participants of all levels. Considerations for the postponement involved the smoky airshed of the Klamath canyon and avoiding exacerbating this along with having more local managers and staff available that weren't committed to wildfires. KTREX was originally scheduled for September 25 to October 7 but ended up taking place from October 30 to November 4. There were about 65 participants this year; they were more local-based partly due to the later season event and other factors. We had one great day of understory burning on 10.31, our Halloween burn, with the remaining time spent on pile burning and addressing this backlog. In total, we accomplished over 400 acres during the 2023 KTREX event.
2022 Klamath TREX
Klamath TREX hosted a 2-week training from October 10 to October 22 this year. The focus was on prescribed fire use for natural resource management, wildfire risk mitigation, and Indigenous cultural values, as well as to provide a unique training opportunity for NWCG (National Wildfire Coordinating Group) qualified participants of all levels. Subsequent to this, we engaged the "All-hands, All-lands" model (from October 24 to the end of the season), which focused both on training opportunities and scaled pile burning for those regionally located and available.
2021 Klamath TREX
KTREX forged ahead for another year despite a global pandemic, driven by partners with deep-seated beliefs to return good fire back to the landscape. Over 180 participants from more than 40 groups and organizations, near and far trekked their way to our "remote-rural" area and burned over 1,000 acres in seven weeks. We adjusted the traditional two week model, extended it, and embraced an All-Hands, All-Lands approach utilizing regional partner resources to adapt to changing conditions. This year KTREX partnered extensively with the Six Rivers and Klamath National Forest conducting multiple broadcast and pile burns on the Orleans, Ukonom and Happy Camp Ranger Districts. Several hundred acres of old piles along Elk Creek Road that increased the threat to homes in the 2022 McCash Fire were burned and the KNF hosted a BBQ with KTREX resources at the Happy Camp Helitack base
2020 Klamath TREX
Much thought and consideration went into this year's event in light of Covid-19 to adhere to our number one priority - safety. This year, KTREX was a local-centric event, travel and the relative isolation of the Mid-Klamath River communities were weighed heavily by planners. Participants were comprised of local fire staff associated with local TREX partner organizations, including the Karuk Tribe, Mid Klamath Watershed Council, US Forest Service, Salmon River Restoration Council, Watershed Research and Training Center, Cultural Fire Management Council, Shasta Valley RCD, Scott River Watershed Council, and local volunteer fire departments. Several large burns in the Orleans Valley strengthened key fuelbreaks around the town.
2019 Klamath TREX
The 6th annual Klamath TREX treated a total of 217 acres on 25 units in six days. Four of these six days we were the only group allowed to burn at that time in California due to a statewide burn suspension! The event welcomed 106 fire practitioners and 170 total participants including media, 70 trainee positions and 37 folks who finished their current taskbooks at this event. KTREX hosted an all-star group of nature journalers who contributed an amazing collection of informative artistic renderings of the event, helping us better tell the TREX story.
2018 Klamath TREX
The 2018 Klamath TREX welcomed over 90 participants and burned nearly 300 acres on 11 separate prescribed burns around the communities of Orleans, Somes Bar, and Happy Camp. Participants received high quality training assignments while everyone helped put "good fire" safely back on the Klamath landscape. This was the first year KTREX was able to burn the complex 70 acre Ishi Pishi Unit on Ishi Pishi Road. This unit had only perimeter fuels reduction on a steep slope above the Sandy Bar neighborhood, with fire as an initial treatment after more than a century of fire exclusion. International participants from Spain and South America added greatly to this event.
