Sense of Place will feature A History of Wildfire in the Gorge on March 20, 2024. This event will be offered in-person at the Columbia Center for the Arts in Hood River, Oregon and via livestream.
The recent catastrophic wildfires in the Pacific Northwest serve as a stark reminder of wildland fire’s place on the landscape. These events highlight the immediate dangers to communities and the natural world, but can overshadow the much broader historical impacts of wildland fire. For local tribes, fire was a tool for management of traditionally gathered and hunted resources, such as huckleberries and game. And since the early 1800s, the documentation of both natural and human-caused fires has been chronicled in periodicals and published literature, photos, maps, and in first-person accounts from early forest rangers, loggers, and miners. Modern-day wildfires have led to evolving fire management strategies, but looking ahead has prompted increased recognition to also look back. Join Chris Donnermeyer, Heritage Program Manager with the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, as he digs into the history of wildfire in the Gorge and what it might tell us about the future.
Chris Donnermeyer has been working as a Heritage professional since 2000 and has held roles in both the private and public sectors. Chris began his federal career in 2004 with the Flagstaff Area National Monuments. In 2010 Chris worked with the Bonneville Power Administration, then moved to the U.S. Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot National Forest; first as an Archaeologist, then as the Heritage Program Manager. In 2017, Chris joined the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area as the Heritage Program Manager. In this role, he has worked using a variety of methods, including reconnaissance and historic surveys on privately-owned lands, and in coordination and co-stewardship with over a dozen Federal and state agencies, and six Tribes.
Event Details: Sense of Place
When – Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Doors open 6:00 pm, presentation begins 7pm.
Where – Columbia Center for the Arts, 215 Cascade Avenue Hood River, OR 97031 or via livestream
Cost – $12 tickets, information at SenseOfPlaceGorge.org * Advance purchase is encouraged as presentations often sell-out. Seats not filled by 6:45pm will be made available to those on the waitlist. The event and will be followed by a Q&A moderated by Sense of Place host, Sarah Fox.