Washington Dry Forest Fire Learning Network (FLN)

The Fire Learning Network (FLN) is a network of landscape-scale collaborative projects across the country that are working to accelerate the restoration of fire-adapted ecosystems and the development of resilient communities. FLN connects these projects and leaders to learn from each other, providing training, education, funding, and opportunities to connect and share. 

One of these collaborative projects, the Washington Dry Forest Fire Learning Network is a group of collaboratives, tribal, federal, state, and local agencies, non-profits, and community partners. We are working to increase the resilience of our communities and restore fire adapted dry forests on the east slope of the Cascade Mountains and in the Selkirk Range of northeastern Washington.

We are connected through our shared objective to live better with fire, with forests that are resilient to future conditions and communities that are actively engaged before, during, and after fires. Our goals are to increase capacity for greater co-management of fire and forests by bringing more partners and stakeholders to the table, building a more qualified fire workforce on all lands, supporting place-based solutions, and improving the pace, scale, and strategic placement of forest restoration work. We work by identifying strategic investments with partners, implementing innovative projects, connecting practitioners to resources and new ideas, bridging efforts between stakeholders, and supporting the capacity of local groups and organizations.

The Washington Dry Forest Fire Learning Network has helped facilitate the development of several key collaboratives and coalitions in the state focused on fire resilience in our communities and forests, including the Tapash Sustainable Forest Collaborative, the North Central Washington Forest Collaborative, Washington Prescribed Fire Council, and Kittitas Fire Adapted Communities Coalition. Through focused and strategic investment in funding and capacity in projects, the Washington Dry Forest FLN achieves collaborative short and long term outcomes to better work and live with fire.

While WRCD has partnered with the Washington Dry Forest FLN from the beginning, WRCD became lead for the Washington Dry Forest Fire Learning Network landscape in 2017. With a unique perspective and connections across the state, WRCD works with partners to identify areas of investment and propel innovative ideas that align with the Cohesive Wildland Fire Strategy. Through Washington Dry Forest FLN, WRCD has:

• Engaged in outreach to build understanding and engagement between practitioners and the public;
• Supported science through data and best practices summaries;
• Coordinated trainings to increase practitioner skill and build workforce capacity
• Identified barriers and issues and developed pathways toward resolution
• Convened shared interests and developed shared goals;
• Developed initiatives, programs, and organizations