Job Interview: Fire manager shares what it really takes to prevent and fight wildfires
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Bradley Oen loves the forest and part of his job is setting it on fire.
Oen is the assistant fire management officer at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s northwest hub in Detroit Lakes. His work is all about how to properly protect federal lands and habitats in Minnesota.
“Every square inch of federal land that has burnable vegetation on it requires a fire plan,” Oen said.
That fire plan includes coordinating with meteorologists, biologists, local municipalities, private landowners, tribal governments and then consulting policy and law.
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“Facilitating all of the behind-the-scenes things that are necessary for folks in the field to go fight fires,” Oen said.
Sometimes fighting those fires include setting them. Oen said the narrative around wildland fires is that all fire is bad for the landscape, but that’s not true.
“Fire is a necessary component of the landscapes that we love,” Oen said. “We also need to understand that part of protecting the forest is also burning it at times.”
In other words, fire can be regenerative.
”These landscapes that we live in are incredibly resilient,” he said. “They are starting a cycle over again that we are lucky enough to get to see in our lifetime.”
Prescribed or controlled burns remove dry, decayed vegetation from landscapes.
“Just like you know, when a doctor would prescribe somebody medicine or physical therapy to get them better more healthy, we have prescriptions that line out specifics on when it's appropriate for us to burn or not,” Oen said.
However, that doesn’t mean the message of Smokey Bear is off the table. Unintentional forest fires caused by a tossed cigarette or a campfire can get out of control.
Oen has been fighting fires for 17 years. He’s manned helicopters to led “hot crews” around the country. These days his work is less tactical, but he still gets to go out and work in a field he loves.
”As a kid, growing up on the prairie was fine and good, but I couldn't wait to get to the forest,” he said. “I knew I never wanted to be anywhere else.”
This conversation is a part of our Job Interview series, where we talk to everyday Minnesotans about the rewards and challenges of their work. Click on the audio player to hear the orginal radio piece and read on for some highlights, edited for style and clarity.
Official title: Assistant fire management officer
What I actually do: “I manage wildland fire.”
A great day at work: “After we do a prescribed fire, especially on the prairie, you'll see tons of birds of prey starting to circle around. All of a sudden, you've got all these hawks, and you've got these falcons and stuff looking for critters that they can munch on in the field.
“If you want to see dramatic wildlife response, come in after a fire is burned, and, man, you get to see some cool stuff.”
A not-so-great day at work: “When I’m working during fire season, I don’t have time to nourish relationships, nourish myself … It’s kind of a feast or famine type situation.”
What I’ve learned: “There’s no black and white about anything. Especially in emergency response. We make the best decisions we can at the time, and we need to be decisive.
“It’s taught me is to be much more patient and kind and tolerant towards decisionmakers and to really, if I’m going to judge anybody on anything, is judging on intent instead of outcome.”
