Resilience: A Student Film

My name is Parker Burrill and I am a current undergraduate at Southern Oregon University majoring in Ecology and Conservation. In a Fire Ecology course I was given the opportunity to compile a film that focused on a specific aspect of fire. My film “Resilience” aims to draw attention to the concept of resilience, both ecologically and socially. The Almeda Fire of 2020 was a devastating event that caused severe damage and loss in our Rouge Valley community. Personally, I was evacuated from work that day and had little understanding of the fate of our towns. The film starts with an acknowledgement to this event as well as a metamorphosis of my understanding of fire and a desire to inquire more on its role. As damaging and destructive as current urban and wildfire regimes can be, it is important to acknowledge and engage with fire as a tool for proper management and as a function of ecological productivity. 

When I met with John Speece, a project manager with the RRWC, we toured the Bear Creek RM 19.0 restoration site. The interview with John highlighted the silver linings of fire as it paves the way for restoration initiatives and community engagement. It became clear that while the Almeda Fire was a devastating negative occurrence in our community, it also allowed for a restoration project that lends to a more productive riparian ecosystem, higher hydrological functionality, and improved salmonid spawning habitat in Bear Creek. As well as this, the Bear Creek RM 19.0 project allowed the local community to get involved restoring an area that was impacted by this fire. Seeing this project unfold has inspired me to understand the importance of ecological restoration and educating more people on the importance of creating healthy riparian zones, even in the wake of destruction.

After this meeting I ventured into the Applegate to join the U.S. Forest Service and other partners on a prescribed burn. The goal of this burn was to mitigate conifer encroachment, reduce understory fuel loads, and create a resilient barrier between local communities and high severity fire. Understanding fire's role on the ecosystem is a highly important aspect of forest health and community safety. This film is my attempt to shed light on the importance of this ecological function and is a call for anyone who doesn't understand fire to engage with and understand its role, power, and importance. Incorporating fire and instilling community based engagement is our path forward to healthier environments and safer communities.

https://vimeo.com/1196079932

Thank you Parker for allowing us to share this film with our supporters, and we hope folks appreciate getting the chance to celebrate young natural resource professionals in academia & beyond.