Forest fires embody two qualities that seem to contradict each other. Its destructive force reduces landscapes to char and ash. But fires also nurture, its intense heat a key that unlocks the start of a new cycle of life. This duality fascinates Monique Wynecoop, who’s worked on the Colville National Forest since 2008.
Wynecoop is a Fire Ecologist.
“I get to fight fire and I get to study its effects on the natural resources we manage – the best of both worlds!” she said. “I also help tell our story to the public about what it is our fire and aviation program does, as well as the role that natural fire plays on the landscape.”
Part of Wynecoop’s work is to develop and coordinate the Colville National Forest’s fire and fuels monitoring program. It studies how prescribed burning, thinning the forest understory, and burning slash piles affects natural resources, like tree stands, streams, and wildlife. Measuring how nature adapts to wildfire and these fuels reduction treatments helps guide the decisions Forest Service staff make to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Colville National Forest to meet the needs of present and future generations.
Protecting and appreciating natural resources is in Wynecoop’s blood. Her father worked in fire and aviation for more than 30 years. One of her fondest childhood memories is of pouring over her dad’s fire maps with siblings and listening to his stories about fire assignments. Now Wynecoop shares that experience with her children.
“My parents are both really active and outdoorsy people, so they got my siblings and me in to hunting, fishing, and recreating during our free time, so I knew at a young age that I wanted to have a job that would allow me to protect and manage what I love,” she said. “I am Pit River/Maidu and had always wanted to be able to make a difference on the land for tribal people. I decided I could make a big difference working for the U.S. Forest Service, which manages approximately 500 million acres of U.S. tribal ancestral territories.”
What she wants most for the public to understand is that people choose to work for the U.S. Forest Service because of their love for the resources they manage and protect. Millions of acres of forests, countless miles of streams and shoreline, and invaluable cultural resources draw many people to consider a career in natural resource management. Wynecoop’s advice for Forest Service job seekers: “If you are interested in a particular field or job, just pick up the phone and call the forest you are interested in working for. It never hurts to ask a few questions!”
When Wynecoop is on the job out in the field, she loves identifying understory plant species. It’s what she often did for fun as a child and almost always leads to other discoveries that are easy to miss during a hike. Birds, insects, and mammals often appear almost as if by magic when one is still and observes the forest.
“My favorite part is collaborating and developing projects with our tribal and non-tribal partners so we can help manage their cultural values that are effected by fire,” Wynecoop said. “The forest is the original grocery store or garden. It has everything we need to survive and I like knowing that I am helping to restore and protect that valuable resource for my children and future generations!”
In 2017, Wynecoop earned a Master of Science degree in Fire Ecology while pregnant with her third child. Soon after, her manuscript about incorporating traditional knowledge into fuels reduction treatments was accepted for publication in the Journal of Fire Ecology. These two experiences have become her proudest professional achievements to date.
“My husband and I want our children to see that they can do anything they put their mind to,” she said. “Being a mother or a woman shouldn't hold anyone back from pursuing a degree or career in what is still a male-dominated field.”
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