The Dirt and Dust
There are innumerable stories hidden in the landscape of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico, tucked away behind Ponderosa Pine trees, bubbling up in cascading streams, soaring above verdant valleys. Who are the people? What is this place? How can we ensure a better future for us and our surroundings?
The Dirt and Dust explores these questions along with the personalities, places, and peculiarities of the 2 Watersheds - 3 Rivers - 2 States Cohesive Strategy Partnership (2-3-2) landscape which works collaboratively, bringing together government agencies, tribal partners, non-profits, community members, and more to make decisions collectively about our forests, rivers, wildlife, and communities. Learn more at 232partnership.org.
Brought to you by the 2-3-2, Mountain Studies Institute, Forest Stewards Guild, USDA Forest Service, and Zebulon Krol.
The Dirt and Dust
Fire is Life
Fire. The word itself is powerful, conjuring up conflicting images of fear and also comfort, of destruction and barbecues. Fire is not a malicious force. It has no more malicious intentions than a penny falling from a skyscraper. But the impacts can range from helpful to horrible, depending on how humans interact and have historically interacted with the landscape.
This is a story of when fire helped. It’s a story that often isn’t told but one that can spark renewed belief of how our actions can in fact lead to a better outcome. That does not mean, however, that we can do it every time for every fire. It does mean that we can do some things, most notably accept the natural and inevitable existence of fire. Because fire, well, fire is life.
In this episode, Fire is Life, we talk with Angie Krall, the West Zone District Ranger on the Carson National Forest, about the Midnight Fire, long-term thinking, and the necessity of fire.
Want to know more about the Midnight Fire? Watch this movie, Goodnight, Midnight.
A special thanks to Angie Krall. Music by Zebulon Krol.
The Dirt and Dust is brought to you by the 2-3-2, Mountain Studies Institute, the Forest Stewards Guild, the USDA Forest Service, and Zebulon Krol.
Want to hear more? Listen to our audio story map to hear the history of the 2-3-2 at 232partnership.org.