Fighting Fire in the Sierra National Forest

To live in the foothills on the periphery of the Sierra National Forest is to live with the certainty of summer wildfires. Each year, from April forward, Californians watch the sky and sniff the air for telltale signs of smoke. While fire remains a constant threat, the strategy for combating it has evolved with the understanding of its beneficial role in the forest environment. Marcia Penner Freedman traces the history of firefighting and fire management from the forest's early years through the policy shifts that began in the 1960s and the measures used today.

For fifteen years Marcia Penner Freedman split her career between writing and teaching psychology and child development at community college. Since her retirement she has devoted herself exclusively to writing, which has allowed her time to devote more energy to her activities as a board member of the Coarsegold Resource Conservation District (CRCD). This project has led to her interest in developing a community fuels reduction program through the CRCD.