Ready NOW

04/01/2026

We're gonna be so popular!

Over the past few years, we’ve had a lot of honest conversations about what it takes to keep this work going. Like many nonprofits, Firebrand Resiliency Collective operates in a constant balancing act between delayed funding and the very real, immediate needs of the communities we serve. It’s not always glamorous, and it’s rarely straightforward. But it’s work we believe in deeply.

Still, the reality is: we’ve had to get creative. Which is why we’re announcing a bold new revenue strategy:

We’re opening a fireworks stand.

Now, we understand there may be concerns. But hear us out: After years of working in wildfire recovery and preparedness, we realized that no one understands fire in this region quite like we do. We like to think we can bring a uniquely informed perspective to the fireworks space. And honestly, we need to diversify our portfolio of services.

Proceeds will support our ongoing work in community resilience, preparedness, and recovery—while also raising awareness about fire safety in a very immediate, experiential way. Because at the end of the day, whether it’s through grants, partnerships, or (apparently) pyrotechnics, we’re committed to finding ways to sustain this work for the long haul.

More details to come soon, including location, hours, and our official stance on “defensible space” around the checkout counter.

Want to get a jump on this year's wildfire season? Place your order today:
https://tinyurl.com/52mbxp7h

03/03/2026

All Things Fire Fair week has arrived! Join us this Friday and Saturday for a series of informative presentations, demonstrations, and activities focused on wildfire/emergency preparedness here in the Applegate.

We'll have experts from all over the state present, in addition to local practitioners that know the Valley like the back of their hand. Topics of discussion will range from the future of prescribed fire in the Applegate to why homeowners insurance premiums are spiking locally, and much more!

Head to agreaterapplegate.org to view our full schedule of events!

Applegate Fire District Williams Rural Fire Protection District Applegate Partnership & Watershed Council Firebrand Resiliency Collective Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative Salt & Fire Ashland Jacksonville Review

03/03/2026

03/03/2026

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 - 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
(March 20–21, Applegate FD)

Firebrand Resiliency Collective is hosting a two-day Home Wildfire Risk Assessor training focused on structure ignition risk, defensible space, resident engagement, and hands-on field assessments.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀:
• Recognizing structure ignition factors and defensible space mitigations
• Practical, field-ready assessment methodology
• Strategies for productive resident risk conversations
• Hands-on assessments in the field
• Intro to the Wuuii platform for digital assessments and mitigation tracking

𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:
• Location: Applegate Fire District Training Room
• Dates: March 20–21
• Cost: $300 ($250 without food)
• Up to 10 seats reserved for fire district personnel

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 for personnel able to conduct assessments under FRC’s Ready NOW program using the Wuuii digital assessment platform. Our goal is to strengthen regional capacity for consistent, high-quality home risk assessments and improve coordination between districts and community mitigation efforts. While Jackson and Josephine County fire personnel will be prioritized, out-of-area professionals are welcome if space allows.

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼 & 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: firebrandcollective.org/assessor

02/09/2026

𝗨𝗽𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗜 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗢𝗨:
𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲 – 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆-𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

Large, destructive wildfires are becoming the new normal. This upcoming course explores how communities can dramatically reduce wildfire risk through neighborhood-level action, equity-centered preparedness, and workforce solutions.

Ashland’s 2025 Community Wildfire Protection Plan sets a goal of reducing wildfire risk by 90% within ten years. This “local conversation” forum explores opportunities to achieve that goal through community action.

Topics include identifying neighborhood-level risk using aerial imagery; reducing residential risk (with attention to renters and socially vulnerable households); responding to the insurance crisis; and building a wildfire-smart workforce. The last session will be a mini-summit where we develop an action plan.

𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: Our Executive Direct Tucker has a full session dedicated to FRC and Ready NOW on Feb 24 and Brian Hendrix from Ashland fire & rescue will be presenting information on February 17 about how Ashland is geospatially analyzing throughout the city and in neighborhoods.

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:
February 10–March 10, 2026

Tuesdays, 3:30–5:30 pm

Campbell Center (655 Frances Lane, Ashland) and Zoom

𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗜 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 may register directly - https://olli.sou.edu/olliatsou/course/course.aspx?C=3999&pc=59&mc=60&sc=0

𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 should contact Charisse Sydoriak by email to learn how to participate.
[email protected]

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿: Charisse Sydoriak has 35 years of experience in fire and natural-resource management, co-founded Ashland’s Volunteer Wildfire Risk Assessment Program, and co-authored the City’s 2025 Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

More info 👉 https://ashlandclimate.org/event/sou-olli-course-living-with-wildfire-planning-for-community-driven-solutions/2026-02-10/

02/09/2026

Every home assessment has a ripple effect. 💧

By helping one family harden their home, you can help protect an entire neighborhood.

Firebrand’s Ready NOW program is building a team of Home Wildfire Risk Assessors — friendly, committed people with a passion for community service.

Training provided, flexible schedule, paid per assessment.

🌱 Ready to make a difference?

Learn more and apply here 👉 firebrandcollective.org/assessor

02/03/2026

02/03/2026

Save the Dates! A Greater Applegate is kicking off our events for the year in the next couple of weeks. First up is the 2026 State of the Applegate: Report Night happening at Schmidt Family Vineyards on February 11th from 5:30-8:00pm.

RSVP's appreciated: https://agreaterapplegate.dm.networkforgood.com/forms/2026-state-of-the-applegate

After that we roll into the Food and Farm Network's annual gathering at Blue Fox Farm and the return of the All Things Fire Fair at the Applegate Fire District. This will be followed closely by a networking event for those involved in education here in the Applegate at Pacifica: A Garden in the Siskiyous.

Mark your calendars and stay tuned. This is just the beginning.

01/29/2026

Community meeting at the Williams Grange tonight at 6! Part of the second round of public meetings for the Applegate Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) update.

The CWPP team will share progress updates, including initial findings from the public survey and potential fuels reduction projects. You’ll have the opportunity to give feedback on these projects and learn more about the project prioritization process. Tonight's presentation will be tailored to the Willams neighborhood.

Can’t make it? Don’t worry!

A third and final round of public meetings will take place in the spring. And in the meantime, completing the survey (https://www.applegatepartnership.org/cwpp) is the best way to contribute to the development process!

Southern Oregon Forest Restoration Collaborative Williams Rural Fire Protection District

01/21/2026

It's Controlled Burn Season....

Now that rainy and cool weather is here, controlled burn season has been happening across the area. As conditions allow, forest managers will use prescribed fire, often called controlled burns, to reduce community wildfire risk throughout Southern Oregon. Proactive burning reduces fuels in forests, creating safer conditions for firefighters during the summer while benefiting forest health.

Here are some measures you can take to be informed and healthy during the controlled burn season:
Visit SmokewiseAshland.org and Jackson County Health and Human Services for advice about how to protect yourself from smoke and see the current air quality.
Purchase air cleaning and personal protection supplies: Supplies for indoor air cleaning and N95 respirators (face masks) are available at local stores.
Avoid active burn areas. Plan your hikes, runs, rides, and outings to avoid areas where controlled burns are planned.

Sign up for notifications. For non-emergency, controlled burn notifications around Ashland, text 97520 in the message line to 888-777.
Rogue Forest Partners provides periodic updates to the community about their ecological restoration projects, especially when controlled burning is planned in the wildland urban interface west of Talent and Phoenix, and into Jacksonville. To stay in the loop, please text “RFPupdate” to 855-594-2793 or follow Rogue Forest Partners (rogueforestpartners.org) on Facebook ().

Story from Ashland Forest Resiliency
----

Ahora que ha llegado el tiempo lluvioso y fresco, se está llevando a cabo la temporada de quemas controladas en toda la zona. Si las condiciones lo permiten, los gestores forestales utilizarán el fuego prescrito, a menudo denominado quemas controladas, para reducir el riesgo de incendios forestales en toda la comunidad del sur de Oregon. Las quemas proactivas reducen los combustibles en los bosques, lo que crea condiciones más seguras para los bomberos durante el verano y beneficia la salud de los bosques.
A continuación, se indican algunas medidas que puede tomar para mantenerse informado y saludable durante la temporada de quemas controladas:
Visite SmokewiseAshland.org y Jackson County Health and Human Services para obtener consejos sobre cómo protegerse del humo y ver la calidad actual del aire.
Compre suministros para la purificación del aire y la protección personal: los suministros para la purificación del aire interior y las mascarillas N95 (mascarillas) están disponibles en las tiendas locales.
Evite las zonas de quema activa. Planifique sus caminatas, carreras, paseos y salidas para evitar las zonas donde se han programado quemas controladas.
Suscríbase a las notificaciones. Para recibir notificaciones sobre quemas controladas no urgentes en los alrededores de Ashland, envíe un mensaje de texto con el número 97520 al 888-777.
Rogue Forest Partners proporciona actualizaciones periódicas a la comunidad sobre sus proyectos de restauración ecológica, especialmente cuando se planea realizar quemas controladas en la interfaz urbano-forestal al oeste de Talent y Phoenix, y en Jacksonville. Para mantenerse informado, envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra “RFPupdate” al 855-594-2793 o siga a Rogue Forest Partners (rogueforestpartners.org) en Facebook ().

01/21/2026

01/14/2026

🔥 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴!

Become a Home Wildfire Risk Assessor with Firebrand’s Ready NOW program.

▪ No experience needed — training provided ✅
▪ Flexible schedule ✅
▪ $25–$50 per assessment ✅

Help families in Jackson & Josephine Counties make their homes safer from wildfire, one home at a time.

👉 Learn more & apply: firebrandcollective.org/assessor