Youth Conservation Corps Mitigation Projects

This summer, Idaho Firewise in conjunction with the Clearwater Basin Youth Conservation Corps, was able to complete a series of fuel mitigation projects across Latah County. These projects were implemented in critical Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas, adjacent to public lands and on properties owned by residents who would be displaced in the event of a…

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Defensible Space & Wildfire Podcast

Thanks to Matt Price and the Treasure Valley-based Transient Bacon podcast for inviting Idaho Firewise to speak on defensible space from wildfire, especially as we head into the hottest and driest months of the year. The guest speaker is Brett Van Paepeghem, horticulturist and Southern Idaho Project Manager for Idaho Firewise. Link to podcast: Defensible…

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Genus: Euphorbia | Idaho Firewise

If you’ve spent much time exploring the outdoors in Idaho, there’s a good chance that you’ve come across Euphorbia plants on some of your adventures. While landscape plants in this genus have attractive qualities, what you’ve seen in the wild likely are introduced or escapee plants, considered invasive in many parts of the country. From…

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Volunteer Appreciation: Thank You from Idaho Firewise!

Idaho Firewise would like to thank our volunteers for their time, hard work, generosity, and dedication in supporting our mission. Volunteering is a commitment to community and the selfless support of our volunteers is truly an inspiration. We hope to always be able to foster an environment of learning and enjoyment for those that spend…

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Perennial Plant Ideas for the Firewise Landscape

Are you looking for firewise landscape inspiration? Here are perennial plant ideas for multi-season interest! These are tried and true plant species that have performed well at the Idaho Firewise Garden and are recommended by our staffed horticulturists. All plants are hardy to approximately USDA Zone 4 unless otherwise indicated. Combination A: Turkish Veronica Veronica…

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A Low-Water Turf Option to Consider: Dog Tuff™ Grass

Turf can be a perfectly good choice for the firewise landscape and can also be appropriate in xeric applications if the species or mix is carefully selected. Regular maintenance is a priority to keeping turf healthy and green during the fire season. With increased drought conditions and minimal rainfall amounts, Idaho Firewise encourages homeowners to…

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Meet Erica Jansen, AmeriCorps Member

Erica Jansen is serving as the AmeriCorps Community Outreach and Engagement Assistant for Idaho Firewise. This is Erica’s second year serving with AmeriCorps. Last year, she served with a different local environmental non-profit. Her work with Idaho Firewise will focus on organizing fuel reduction events across the state, educating the public on the importance of…

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Idaho Capital Sun, Fire Season Article

Brett Van Paepeghem, South Idaho Project Manager for Idaho Firewise, was recently interviewed about the importance of firewise landscaping and taking preventative steps to reduce the risk of loss due to fire. Link to article –Defensible space: Wildfire experts say planning, preparation can reduce the risk of losing homes.

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Meet Emma Sondker, AmeriCorps Member

My name is Emma Sondker and I am the new AmeriCorps member of Idaho FireWise. I am serving for the next 5.5 months on a joint project of the Palouse Land Trust and Idaho FireWise. My official title is the Outreach and Community Engagement Assistant. I started serving near the end of March and am…

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