In May 2024, fire and fuels staff from Crater Lake National Park joined forces with the Klamath Tribes to carry out the North Casino prescribed fire in Chiloquin, Oregon, on the Tribes’ treaty lands.
According to the National Park Service, the 12-acre burn aimed to restore the landscape to pre-European conditions and revive the meadow ecosystem that once thrived there.
The North Casino area had not experienced fire in over 70 years.
The prescribed burn targeted invasive shrubs like sagebrush and bitterbrush, which had displaced native edible roots or “first foods.”
By reintroducing fire as a management tool, the project sought to revitalize the land’s biodiversity and improve the health of scattered ponderosa pine trees in the area by burning lower branches, thus increasing their resistance to future wildfires.
This project marked an important collaboration between the National Park Service (NPS) and the Klamath Tribes, establishing a framework for future cooperation on fire and fuel management initiatives across Tribal and National Park lands.
The North Casino prescribed fire also served as an opportunity to reinforce inter-agency ties, as both NPS and Tribal land managers aim to manage fire-prone landscapes that span these boundaries.
The project also included efforts to lower wildfire risks to structures owned by the Klamath Tribes by reducing nearby hazardous fuels.
Both entities acknowledged the benefits of this collaboration, which not only enhances fire preparedness but also encourages shared responsibility in land stewardship across the region.
The prescribed fire presented training opportunities for members of the Klamath Tribes, who gained hands-on experience in fire management and suppression.
A member of the Klamath Tribes fire team participated as the firing boss trainee, an experience that aligns with the Tribes’ ongoing efforts to develop expertise in both fuels management and fire suppression.
“This project allowed for real-world training opportunities for the Klamath Tribes,” said the NPS, emphasizing the value of the practical skills gained during the burn.
Tribal members’ involvement in this operation was a strategic move to support their growing fire and fuels management program.
Both Crater Lake National Park and the Klamath Tribes view the success of the North Casino prescribed fire as a stepping stone toward a sustained partnership in landscape management.
As stated by the NPS, this project has laid the groundwork for managing more land across boundaries in the future.
By continuing efforts like this, both groups hope to build a foundation for long-term, cooperative land stewardship practices that increase regional resilience to wildfire.
In May 2024, Crater Lake National Park’s fire and fuels staff assisted the Klamath Tribes with a 12-acre prescribed fire on treaty lands in Chiloquin, Oregon.
This project aimed to restore a historically significant meadow ecosystem by managing invasive plants and enhancing ponderosa pines’ resilience to wildfire.
The North Casino burn marked an important partnership between the National Park Service and the Klamath Tribes, allowing for hands-on fire management training for Tribal members as they build their capacity in fuels management.
This effort underscored the commitment of both groups to cooperative fire management practices for future landscape and community safety across Oregon’s shared lands.
