In early April, Program Managers Kathryn Mahan and Crystal Medina traveled to Cle Elum, Washington to attend the After the Flames Conference and share the story of FIRENM.
Their presentation focused on a simple but important idea: wildfire is not a one-time event, it is a continuum. In response to the 2022 Hermit Peak Calf Canyon Fire, the New Mexico Forest and Watershed Restoration Institute developed FIRENM (Fire Informed Restoration Education for New Mexico) to connect science, post-fire restoration, and community-based collaboration across that full continuum. From turning monitoring data into practical tools to building long-term relationships rooted in trust, the work is ultimately about meeting communities where they are and supporting locally driven recovery.
That message carried throughout the conference. Much of what they heard echoed what we are seeing in New Mexico. Recovery works best when it is grounded in local partnerships, when science is accessible and usable, and when we invest in the people doing the work. Long-term resilience is not just about restoring landscapes, it is about supporting the relationships and communities behind them. Learn more about the ways we do this, here: https://nmfwri.org/stewardship/wildfire-resiliency/
Find more tools and webinars for After the Flames here: https://aftertheflames.com/