SPRING 2026 – COMMITMENT TO WILDFIRE RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE

Ridgetop Fuel Break - Rural Urban Interface

Backbone Ridge Area - Near Pitt River Arm Lake Shasta

 

OPINION

By Don Amador

March 20, 2026

 

SPRING 2026 – COMMITMENT TO WILDFIRE RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE

 

As Californians welcome the first day of spring, an unusually warm and dry start to the season serves as an early reminder of a growing reality: wildfire is no longer a seasonal concern—it is a year-round challenge that requires shared responsibility.

 

Over the past decade, California has experienced some of the most destructive wildfires in its history. These events have reshaped landscapes, devastated communities, and impacted millions of acres of forests, rangelands, and watersheds. They have also affected access to public lands, damaged roads and trails, and placed extraordinary demands on land managers, firefighters, and rural communities.

 

In response, a broad coalition of partners—including federal and state land management agencies, local governments, tribes, private landowners, recreation organizations, and volunteer groups—is working together to apply lessons learned and strengthen the resilience of California’s landscapes and communities.

Post August Complex Fire Campground Restoration

Plaskett Meadow - Mendocino NF

At the center of this effort is a shared understanding: healthy, accessible, and well-managed lands are essential to both public safety and sustainable recreation.

 

Across the state, collaborative efforts are underway to reduce hazardous fuels, restore forest and watershed health, and improve preparedness. These efforts are supported by science-based planning, increased coordination across jurisdictions, and a growing recognition that proactive management is critical to reducing wildfire risk.

FireScape Mendocino - Forest Health Collaborative

Recreation communities—especially the off-highway vehicle (OHV) community—are important partners in this work. For decades, OHV riders, clubs, and volunteers have contributed to trail maintenance, stewardship projects, and on-the-ground monitoring of conditions across vast and often remote landscapes.

 

Equally important, the roads and trails used for recreation also serve as critical infrastructure. They provide access for wildfire response, support forest management activities, and play a key role in post-fire recovery. Maintaining these systems—and using them responsibly—is a shared priority.

 

As we move into the spring and summer months, we encourage all who live, work, and recreate on public lands to take simple but meaningful steps to reduce risk and support safe, sustainable use:

 

 Follow fire restrictions and seasonal closures

 Use spark arrestors and maintain equipment to prevent ignition

 Stay on designated routes and respect land management guidance

 Be aware of weather conditions and changing fire risk

 Participate in local stewardship and volunteer efforts

 

For rural communities, continued investment in defensible space, emergency preparedness, and local partnerships remains essential. For land managers and policymakers, sustaining the pace and scale of forest health and fuels reduction work will be critical in the years ahead.

 

We also recognize the human dimension of wildfire. The impacts extend beyond the landscape—to the people who manage these lands, respond to emergencies, and call these communities home. Supporting their well-being and strengthening the workforce needed to meet these challenges is an important part of building long-term resilience.

 

Spring is a time of renewal. It is also a time to prepare.

 

By working together—across agencies, communities, and recreation groups—we can reduce wildfire risk, protect lives and natural resources, and ensure that California’s public lands remain accessible and enjoyable for future generations.

 

The path forward is rooted in partnership, responsibility, and a shared commitment to the lands we all value.

 

# # #

 

Don Amador has been in the trail advocacy and recreation management profession for over 33 years.   Don is President of Quiet Warrior Racing LLC. Don serves as the Western States Representative for the Motorcycle Industry Council. Don is Past President/CEO and current board member of the Post Wildfire OHV Recovery Alliance and serves as the Safety Training Coordinator. Don is a Co-Founder and Current Core-Team member on FireScape Mendocino.  Don served as a North Zone Fire Cache AD Driver for the 2022 to 2024 fire seasons.