Our 18th Annual Wildfire Safety Summit was a day of connection, inspiration, and a shared commitment to wildfire safety, land stewardship, and community resilience in Butte County. This Neighbor-to-Neighbor event brought together local changemakers dedicated to taking meaningful action.
The day showcased a year of progress as we engaged with safety partners and explored wildfire safety initiatives, forest health projects, successes, and challenges. Highlights included the debut of two powerful videos, produced by our very own Andrew Burke, telling the stories of the Thompson Fire in Oroville and the Park Fire in Cohasset. These videos underscored the resilience and collaboration that drive recovery and restoration. Additionally, Calli-Jane West shared a moving spoken-word piece from Poems on Fire, a BCFSC-produced collection of maps, stories, and poetry chronicling the history of fire in Butte County’s Wildland Urban Interface.
As we celebrated this year’s achievements, we also looked to the future, reflecting on both the challenges ahead and the opportunities to create meaningful change. We extend our deepest gratitude to the presenters who shared their expertise and passion for recovery and restoration: Jason Finney (Battalion Chief, CAL FIRE Butte Unit), Olivia Wiemann (Mechoopda Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria), Eli Goodsell (Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve), Faith Churchill (Butte County Resource Conservation District), and Linda Herman (City of Chico). A special moment of the day was honoring Darrel Wilson as our Volunteer of the Year—a true embodiment of the dedication and heart that make this community so remarkable.
“We have to steward our land… realizing that as individuals, community partners, agencies, and landowners, we must come together and work together because no one organization can handle it all.” —Jim Broshears, BCFSC Board Treasurer
We are endlessly grateful for this incredible community and your commitment to preserving and restoring our cherished landscapes. Your support and passion fuel our mission and inspire us every day.
Don’t miss the ChicoER article highlighting this memorable event!
Check out some photos from the day below! And visit our Flickr album for more!