A retired environmental planner will make two free presentations on wildfires later this month in Skamania County.
Jurgen Hess, who worked for the USDA Forest Service, will provide information on reducing wildfire hazards to rural homes and how wildfires are sometimes helpful to ecosystems that have adapted to them.
Hess will make his first presentation Tuesday at the Stevenson Community Library meeting room, 120 N.W. Vancouver Ave., with a second presentation to follow on Wednesday, May 30, at the White Salmon Valley Community Library meeting room, 77 N.E. Wauna Ave.
Both presentations are scheduled to last from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Hess’ presentation titled “Fire … A Force of Life” will focus on the role of fire in ecology and forest health, public fire policy, climate change effects, examples of hazard reduction and an evaluation of four recent area wildfires.
