Proactive work paying off: How forest management made a difference on the Lick Gulch Fire

Proactive work on the ground can make a big difference when it really counts.

On July 7, a fierce thunderstorm rolled through southwest Oregon, delivering thousands of lightning strikes that ignited more than 70 wildfires from Ashland to Cave Junction — many in the heart of the Applegate Valley.

One of those strikes hit a towering Ponderosa pine in a forest previously treated by the BLM through the Lickety Split salvage project. The bolt scarred the tree and ignited a fire at its base.

Thanks to proactive forest management, including dead tree removal and improved firefighter access, crews were able to catch the Lick Gulch Fire at just 1/8 of an acre.

This kind of rapid response matters more than ever. Across the region, drought and insect attacks — nicknamed “Firmageddon” by local researchers — have left thousands of dead Douglas-firs dotting the landscape. These snags are dangerous fuel and a serious hazard for wildland firefighters.

As Justin Kelly, our Field Manager in Grants Pass, said: “In southwest Oregon, it’s not a matter of if fire comes — it’s when. Almost every ignition has the potential to become a large fire.”

That’s why the BLM is ramping up active forest management — to improve firefighter safety, reduce risks, and support quicker, more effective responses.

Learn more about this important work via StoryMaps. (For best viewing, please open the StoryMap in a new full screen window.)