FUSEE's Monthly Newsletter

March 2025

In this issue:

Fire policy updates
Seeking input from our wildland firefighter supporters
Recap of our recent events
FUSEE featured in PBS special
Subscriber merch discount!
Research participation opportunity: Impacts on male firefighter reproduction
Monthly Meditation
Follow us on Bluesky!

Fire policy updates: Big wins and what’s next

The Northwest Forest Plan (NWFP) Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) comment period has officially closed, and thanks to all of you, we made a huge impact! FUSEE, alongside our friends at FireGen and Cascadia Wildlands, rallied support for a petition urging the Forest Service to adopt all the Tribal inclusion components recommended by the now-disbanded Federal Advisory Committee (thank you to its members for their service!) Our goal was 1,000 individual signatures—we surpassed that with over 1,300! In addition, more than 60 organizations, including national conservation allies, Tribal organizations, climate groups, and grassroots fire advocates, signed onto our organizational letter. Some of these incredible groups included the Cultural Fire Management Council, Association for Fire Ecology, Northwest Youth Corps, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters, Sierra Club, the Wilderness Society, KS Wild, Oregon Wild, Earthjustice, many 350 chapters, watershed councils across the region, and many more!

So, where does the NWFP process go from here? The Forest Service will now analyze all of your comments (huge thanks to everyone who submitted!), and the final EIS is expected in October 2025, with a Record of Decision in Spring 2026. We’ll keep you posted on any updates along the way.

In other fire policy news, the Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act has officially passed into law! This is a critical win for wildland firefighters, ensuring stable pay and protecting those on the frontlines of the climate crisis. But the work isn’t done—Congress is considering a slew of fire-related bills, and FUSEE is keeping a close eye on the policies that will shape the future of fire management. Stay tuned for next month’s update, where we’ll break down key legislation and how you can take action!

Seeking your input

In order to build our Wildland Firefighter Wellness Program for the coming year, we would like your feedback to the ideas we have for upcoming events and mindfulness retreats. Please take 1 minute and click below to complete the brief survey.

February in Flames: Event Recap

Changemaker Film Series at the Hult Center

FUSEE has been spreading our wings and connecting more with our Oregon community at community engagement events. Thanks to the Hult Center for the Performing Arts in Eugene for inviting us to come share about our work to hundreds of Eugenians interested in environmental causes. We trained two new volunteers to support our new and ever-expanding volunteer program to be our brand ambassadors at events far and wide. Thanks Ayden and Isa for your hard work!

Public Interest Environmental Law Conference (PIELC) Highlights

We had the honor to table all weekend at the University of Oregon (UO) alongside some of the best of the best organizations working on fire, climate and environmental policy. We hosted volunteers from the Justice for Haykim campaign to talk with hundreds of conference attendees. Thanks to all of our staff, board, and many volunteers for keeping the FUSEE table at of the hub of our activities all weekend.

FUSEE hosted a panel on the Northwest Forest Plan, highlighting the environmental justice, Indigenous sovereignty, and fire policy issues and monumental changes that have been happening with this Plan and in the wider community. Special thanks to our three brilliant panelists: Angela Sondenaa, Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians and FAC member, Sarah Wald, UO faculty and renowned environmental justice author and advocate, and Rich Fairbanks, FUSEE board member and community fire prep leader. FireGen also was hot this weekend- tabling with FUSEE, connecting with new allies from far and wide, and was a key part of an amazing panel speaking on the connection between Tribal rights, salmon and fire. What brilliant lessons we learned from all of the other amazing panels and speakers from across the country!

FUSEE helped organize and host the Pacific Northwest Forest Climate Alliance (PNWFCA)’s annual fundraiser, raising over $2,400 with more than 150 attendees alongside friends at Cascadia Wildlands, Bark, 350 PDX, and so many more. Special shout out to all of the attendees and supporters that made our night so fun- full of amazing live music, dancing, raffle prizes, and sweet community connections.

See you next year at PIELC!

Firefighter Meetups Far & Wide

FUSEE has been hosting wildland firefighter meetups for the past year, and just recently launched our first event in Portland, Oregon. With help from Hotshot Wellness, Bark, and wildland firefighters from a myriad of crews, our event was a huge success. PORTLAND- you were so good to us, so you haven’t seen the last of us!

Thanks again to all of our Eugene firefighter community for making our third meetup last night (3/19) so special and connective. We are grateful for your continued support. These meetups are part of our Firefighter Wellness program, aiming to build community for our fire community in the off-season, help build resiliency, and forge new connections.

See you at the next one?

Isa and Ayden tabling at the Hult Center

FUSEE tabling at PIELC

Angela Sondenaa during her panel at PIELC

Portland Wildland Firefighter Meetup attendees

Watch PBS's new documentary

W eathered: Inside the LA Firestorm

FUSEE's executive director, Timothy Ingalsbee was interviewed for a PBS documentary which aired last night and can be found on Youtube. PBS's press release on the documentary explains:

Throughout the special, [the host] Maiya helps audiences understand the history and science behind urban firestorms in the U.S. From record-breaking heat and prolonged drought to the challenges of firefighting in extreme winds; she learns how a perfect storm of conditions turned these LA fires into a historic catastrophe. How do we protect homes, lives, and communities in an emerging era of large wildfires? What role does the community have in mitigating future disasters? Maiya gets to the bottom of these questions and also takes audiences to the Institute for Business and Home Safety Lab in South Carolina, where researchers simulate urban fire conditions to find ways to make communities more resilient.

Merch discount for our subscribers

Research participation opportunity:

Impacts on male firefighter reproduction

The Montrose Lab at Colorado State University studies wildfire smoke health effects from cell to society. They were recently funded by CDC NIOSH to conduct the Smoke and Wildfire Impact on Male Reproductive Success Study (SWIMRSS), which investigates how wildfire smoke exposure affects the reproductive health of male wildland firefighters. While most health research on wildfire smoke has focused on respiratory and cardiovascular effects, the reproductive health of male wildland firefighters remains an understudied area. This study, which is currently recruiting, aims to address this gap and assess potential epigenetic effects. The findings could provide critical insights into the health of male wildland firefighters, informing strategies to mitigate risks and support family planning goals.

If you are interested in participating for this season's study, please express interest here by March 31st.

Monthly meditation

This month’s free meditation created by one of FUSEE’s amazing wellness retreat facilitators is designed for wildland firefighters but perfect for anyone looking to find calm, focus, and gratitude—take a deep breath and...

listen now!

We're on Bluesky!

Donate to support our work today!

Do you know someone who would like to get our newsletter? Send them here!

Learn more at fusee.org

fusee.org