Wildfire mitigation by Team Rubicon, for Cascade PBS
June 8, 2024

Jeff Sesak, of Samuels, Idaho, a Team Rubicon Sawyer 1, cuts up a tree to be removed during a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential "fire load" of the area by removing burnable materials. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization. Logs and woodchips from the operation are made available to the public.
Lyle Knigge (center), Incident Commander and Team Rubicon Pacific Northwest Field Readiness Deputy, speaks with Team Rubicon members in the old Kennewick Fire Station, called the "Forward Operating Base" by Team Rubicon, during a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The "Forward Operating Base" is where the teams organize their work, hang out, and sleep, throughout the operation. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization.
Mike Dutter, of Portland, Oreg., (right) a Team Rubicon Sawyer 1, and Brian Miller, an Advanced Sawyer 1, make a plan to cut down a tree while working on a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential "fire load" of the area by removing burnable materials. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization. Logs and woodchips from the operation are made available to the public.

In May, I followed along as volunteers from the disaster relief organization Team Rubicon removed burnable material from Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, as part of an effort to mitigate wildfires in the area. Kennewick has a higher fire risk than 92% of U.S. communities. Team Rubicon was started by a US Marine Corps veteran in 2010, traveling to Haiti after that year’s devastating earthquake and has grown to include more than 160,000 volunteers helping respond to or mitigate disasters both in the US and internationally. 

Thanks to Genna for taking the pitch and to Mai for her reporting on the piece, published on the Cascade PBS website.

Mike Dutter, of Portland, Oreg., a Team Rubicon Sawyer 1, cuts a felled tree into sections while working on a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential "fire load" of the area by removing burnable materials. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization. Logs and woodchips from the operation are made available to the public.
Brian Miller, a Team Rubicon Advanced Sawyer 1, (with chainsaw) cuts down a tree while Mike Dutter, of Portland, Oreg., (left) a Sawyer 1, looks on while working on a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential "fire load" of the area by removing burnable materials. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization. Logs and woodchips from the operation are made available to the public.
A portrait of Michael Chiu, Team Rubicon PNW Wildfire Fuel Mitigation Planning Coordinator and chainsaw instructor, while working on a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential "fire load" of the area by removing burnable materials. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization.
An axe lays on the ground as Team Rubicon removes wood from the area during a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential "fire load" of the area by removing burnable materials. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization. Logs and woodchips from the operation are made available to the public.
Carl Jones, of Roseburg, Oreg., a Team Rubicon volunteer sawyer, removes plant debris during a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential "fire load" of the area by removing burnable materials. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization. Logs and woodchips from the operation are made available to the public.
Karl Kaiyala, of Briar, Wash., (center) a Team Rubicon Advanced Sawyer 1 and retired UW professor, rests his hand on a fresh stump after cutting down a tree while working on a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential "fire load" of the area by removing burnable materials. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization.
A portrait of Karl Kaiyala, of Briar, Wash., a Team Rubicon Advanced Sawyer 1 and retired UW professor, while working on a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential "fire load" of the area by removing burnable materials. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization.
Gordon Shields, of Boise, Idaho, a Team Rubicon volunteer General Responder, holds his sawyer helmet during a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential "fire load" of the area by removing burnable materials. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization. Logs and woodchips from the operation are made available to the public.
Jeff Sesak, of Samuels, Idaho, a Team Rubicon Sawyer 1, sharpens a chainsaw during a break during a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential "fire load" of the area by removing burnable materials. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization. Logs and woodchips from the operation are made available to the public.
Wedges used in felling trees hang in the tool belt of Karl Kaiyala, of Briar, Wash., (center) a Team Rubicon Advanced Sawyer 1 and retired UW professor, while working on a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential "fire load" of the area by removing burnable materials. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization.
Karl Kaiyala, of Briar, Wash., (center) a Team Rubicon Advanced Sawyer 1 and retired UW professor, talks to other volunteers about the process he used to cut down a tree while working on a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential "fire load" of the area by removing burnable materials. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization.
Charred trees were chopped into log sections as Team Rubicon removes wood during a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The goal of the project is to reduce the potential "fire load" of the area by removing burnable materials. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization. Logs and woodchips from the operation are made available to the public.
A whiteboard displays the "Battle Rhythm" schedule of Team Rubicon's daily activities and work in the old Kennewick Fire Station, called the "Forward Operating Base" by Team Rubicon, during a fire mitigation project in Zintel Canyon in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on Wed., May 1, 2024. The "Forward Operating Base" is where the teams organize their work, hang out, and sleep, throughout the operation. A crew of about 30 people has been working to remove burnable materials, including standing trees and brush, organized by the Team Rubicon disaster response volunteer organization.
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