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Moving to Bend in 2000 altered my senses to the combination of beauty, power and destruction delivered from the annual fire season of my new home. The differences in vegetation and climate within such a short distance between the valley and the high desert create an intense region where extreme caution is required in daily actions made by residents. I was recently introduced to the concept of the fire behavior triangle. All components such as wind, temperature, precipitation and humidity greatly impact how, when and if a wildfire will start. Bend is situated within a rain shadow and depleted from adequate moisture content, whereas the Willamette valley is saturated in precipitation. Weather conditions combined with native grasses, shrubs, trees and plants all produce different types of litter and fuels in each region. Density and amount of fuels greatly determine the rate and range of fire. After considering each factor and comparing each location, I realized it is not about distance, but focus on the environment as a whole is what distinguishes the susceptibility of a disaster.
As an outdoor enthusiast, many of my favorite hiking trails, lakes, rivers and view points reside within locations that have experienced fire disasters both historically and in recent years. Although I know now that ecosystems can reap beneficial environmental factors from fire, it is devastating to witness life flourish in an area one day and the next have it disappear.
Recently in 2014 the Two Bulls Fire broke out just west of Bend. Threats on homes, evacuations and approximately 6,900 acres were destroyed. Watching friends and family flee from the potential danger and the anguish expressed by their kids was a sad sight and heightened the actuality of the disturbance. On the other hand, it was humbling to watch the community come together and support residents that were effected and the brave fire crews who risk their lives for the sake of society and the environment.
Overall, I have gained a great respect for the element of fire.......
Timelapse -Tumalo Reservoir Fire Bend Oregon Fire Two Bulls Fire-YouTube
Your blog on the dangers of fires in the Oregon high desert was very interesting. I grew up in the Mojave high desert in California. It was in the Owens Valley in a town called Ridgecrest. Although the weather and climate were prime conditions for fires, we never had a concern of fires because the amount of fuels was so low that fires would very rarely spread. The valley also lies in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Because of the dry air, we would have a lot of lightning strikes, but not much came from them. It is interesting to see the difference between the two regions. In the mountains, areas such as Lake Isabella had some pretty bad fires, but we would only get a little smoke from them.
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