The West Is Burning

Jim Paxon, Chief Information Officer on Rodeo-Chediski Fire, Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico

Jim Paxon, Chief Information Officer on Rodeo-Chediski Fire, Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico

Jim Paxon worked for various forestry agencies and also as an alternate on wildland firefighting outfits for 34 years. As Chief Information Officer on the 2002 Rodeo-Chediski fire in Arizona, Paxon became the “face of the firefighters” and consulted with and advised then President Bush on the various aspects of the incident as well as the larger contemporary situation concerning wildfires, of which the “Healthy Forests Restoration Act” of 2003 has been the most significant result. Jim has also authored his own account of this specific fire that addresses the broader context of these events in relation to natural and human developments.

2008 Angel Island Fire, San Francisco Bay, California
2000 Cerro Grande Fire, Los Alamos, New Mexico-9 years later
Keith Satterfield, Wildland Firefighter, Site of 2009 Lake Entiat Fire, Wenatchee, Washington
2008 Royce Butte Fire, Crescent Lake Junction, Oregon-4 months later
2011 Norton Point Fire, Bear Creek, Wyoming
2008 Tea Fire, Montecito, California-8 days later
2008 Tea Fire, Montecito, California-8 days later
2009 Pacheco Fire, West of Los Banos, California
2002 Biscuit Fire, Kalmiopsis Wilderness, Oregon-7 years later
Ernest & Rodney, Inmate Crew, Day 13-2009 Shasta Complex Fire, California
2011 Motor Fire, Sonora Pass, Sierra Nevada, California
American River, California
2009 Arnica Fire, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming-2 Years Later
2002 Rodeo-Chediski Fire, Show Low, Arizona-6 years later
Jim Paxon, Chief Information Officer on Rodeo-Chediski Fire, Truth Or Consequences, New Mexico
1998 Oso Complex Fire, Vicinity of Los Alamos, New Mexico-11 Years Later
1902 Yacolt Burn, Washington-107 years later
Yosemite National Park, California
Wildfire near Cloudcroft, New Mexico after which the unitentional arsonist eventually took his own life
2003 B & B Complex Fire, Central Cascades, Oregon-6 years later
Bill Smith, Wildland Firefighter, Site of 2008 Double Day Fire, Oregon-4 months later
2008 Martin Fire, Bonny Doon, California-1 year later
2009 49er Fire, Auburn, California-3 days later
Flagstaff, Arizona
2008 Summit Fire, Santa Cruz Mountains, California-3 months later
2009 Picacho Fire, Vicinity of Dunken, New Mexico-2 weeks later
2011 Wildfire-Vicinity of Comanche National Grassland, Colorado
Los Angeles, California
Art Arias, Incident Command, Site of 2008 Kincaid Fire, Outside of Carlsbad, New Mexico-9 months later
From the Lookout Tower, Old Fire in Wenatchee National Forest, Washington
1933-51 Tillamook Burn, Oregon-58 years after last fire