Land Management: Fire Safety Work, Tour of Bill's Property

Land Management: Fire Safety Work in Northern California
I am a Land Manager. I work year round on twelve, massive, contiguous properties in Helltown and Centerville, Butte County in Northern California. The Camp Fire burned this region in November of 2018. The Camp Fire was the most destructive fire in California history. I utilize forestry techniques to make the land more open, healthy, sustainable and fire-resistant. I also rescue donkeys. Below are the links to my forestry equipment, land management techniques and donkey rescue.
Equipment:
Grizzly Peak Enterprises
Hand made, high quality axe scabbards, wedge holders, file holders, faller's belt and shoulder harness. This is a legendary company. Everything is hand made in Northern Idaho, USA
grizzlypeakenterprises.com/
West Coast Saw
Timber Falling and Chainsaw Equipment. Made in USA
westcoastsaw.com/
Council Tool
Council Tools have been making high quality striking tools in America since 1886. They use the highest quality steel and are relatively affordable. They make axes, mauls, hatchets, sledgehammers, pry bars and fire equipment. Made in USA.
counciltool.com/
Rogue Hoe
Fire Rake and Hoe, Made in Kansas, USA, from high quality steel reused from heavy, mechanical farm equipment.
roguehoe.com/
Skull Bucket
The one and only. The best hard hat still in production. Made in Pilot Point, Texas, USA.
www.skullbucket.com/index.html
White's Boots
Hand made in Spokane, Washington, USA. Industry standard for wild land fire fighters and sawyers.
whitesboots.com/
Better S-Penders
Hand made, heavy duty, work suspenders made in Grant's Pass, Oregon, USA
www.loggersuspenders.com/
Big Bill
Sturdy, cold weather clothing and equipment. Made in Canada and USA.
www.bigbill.com/us_en/
Husqvarna
Made in Sweden and Canada. My favorite small engine power equipment company.
www.husqvarna.com/us/
Bailey's
Most lumberjack supplies carried. They sell everything! Bailey's started in Laytonville, CA but is now based in Woodland, CA, USA.
www.baileysonline.com/
Klean Kanteen
Manufacturer of Stainless Steel Canteens based in the city where I live, Chico, CA. I drive by their headquarters every morning on my way to work. Support your local businesses!
www.kleankanteen.com/
Land Management Sources:
Anderson, M. Kat. Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California’s Natural Resources. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2005. This book represents twenty years of academic labor performed by M. Kat Anderson, Ph. D University of California at Berkeley. M. Kat Anderson is the foremost authority on Native American land management techniques especially the use of fire in the foothill of the Sierra Nevada.
Anderson, M. Kat. “Native American Land-Use Practices and Ecological Impacts,” Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project: Final Report to Congress, vol II, Assessments and Scientific Basis for Management Options. Davis: University of California, Centers for Water and Wildland Resources, 1996). 187-206. M. Kat Anderson is an expert on Native American land management in California. Her report focused on how Native American tribes in the Sierra Nevada like the Maidu and Miwok used fire to increase the health and biological productivity of grassland, oak woodland and conifer forest.
Faye, Paul-Louis. “Notes on the Southern Maidu.” University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology. Volume 20 Number 3. 1923. This article is one of the earliest written accounts of the Southern Maidu or Nisenan. It mentions how the Nisenan utilized fire “to clear the forest of undergrowth,” therefore creating early evidence of land management.
Margolin, Malcolm. The Way We Lived. Berkeley, California. Heyday Books. 1993. This book is a compilation of stories told by Native Americans living in California about their way of life and land management techniques. It details low-intensity, prescribed burns, purposefully ignited to make the land more healthy in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It also contains a story told by Lucy Thompson about how the Yurok observed strict regulations to manage the anadromous fisheries of the Klamath and Trinity Rivers.
Donkey Rescue:
Oscar's Place
Donkey Rescue and Sanctuary, Mendocino County, California
www.oscarsplace.org/

[@Minnesotalife]

The property I hunt is getting hit with oak wilt & has about 1 acer of all dead oak on it. 3 years ago I moved in to my house & it has a fire place. The land owner that lets me hunt doesn’t charge me anything to hunt so cleaning up his dead oak is my payment. Also helps me out with firewood. We don’t have to worry about cleaning up for fire safety but I like going after dead or disease trees for firewood. It helps promote healthy regeneration in the forest & I can burn it faster.

[@michaellee9883]

That is exactly right. Oak is great firewood too. It leaves a lot of ash but boy does it burn for a long time. It pumps out the heat. I’m not familiar with Oak wilt. What is that?

[@Minnesotalife]

@@michaellee9883 it’s a mold that starts in the roots & will kill the whole tree fast. It spreads super easy & it’s affecting a lot of oak in my area of Minnesota. I’m only allowed to cut & transport during the winter months when everything is frozen so the mold won’t spread.

[@michaellee9883]

@@Minnesotalife Damn. The Oaks are struggling in California but it’s getting better. Forest service/CALfire doing more prescribed burns. California oaks like fire.