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kmclark.bsky.social

@kmclark.bsky.social
66 followers 80 following 98 posts

Wife, mom, grandmom, sister; walker, skier, educator, volunteer. Retired PAO/PIO.

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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Wow. Everyone in the Wildland Fire Community should read this and understand.
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EarthSky @earthskyscience.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The sun’s movement from day to day along your horizon - at the #sunrise or #sunset point - is most noticeable around the equinoxes. You can watch the progress of the #sun as it slides from north to south in the weeks and months following the September #equinox. ☀️ buff.ly/OMUnKuw 📸 Rupesh Sangoi.
Composite of 11 photos with sun just above a low mountain showing positions of the sun at dawn on 11 dates.
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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Huh, AZ and NM State Directors report to Deputy Chief Field Operations Eastern?
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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
From friend Danika.
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Source New Mexico @sourcenm.com · 20/08/2026
So far, 11 people have fled the fire, and three others are sheltering in place, as firefighters describe challenges establishing containment lines in steep terrain and dry conditions. buff.ly/o4khLCe
buff.ly
Frijoles Fire grows to roughly 14,000 acres, creates smoke concerns • Source New Mexico
An internal report shows that firefighters are contending with limited resources as they try to establish containment lines.
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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Today Aug 5 is 77th anniversary of the fatal Mann Gulch Fire in Montana. Most of us in wildfire management know the story, told in the song 'Cold Missouri Waters' by James Keelaghan. My favorite version is by Fiddlin' Foresters a few years back. Worth a listen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAWs...
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Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Another last-minute live event announcement: I'll be joining Katie Couric tomorrow (Wed, Aug 5, at 3pm PT/6pm ET) to discuss the broader context surrounding wildfires in North America & Europe. Livestream open to all, but does require free account to view:
substack.com
Katie Couric | Substack
I’m a journalist always looking for a deeper understanding of the issues.
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UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · 04/08/2026
Our climate scientist Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social will discuss wildfire & weather with @katiecouric.bsky.social via livestream. Check substack.com/@katiecouric for the link Wed, Aug. 5, at 2:15pm PT/5:15 pm ET
Headshot of Daniel Swain speaking and gesturing in the Climate Extremes Documentary
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Glonzo the Bureaucrat 🇬🇱 🌹 @snarkranger.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
in these times I remember what a wise IC said at briefing on a smoky morning in California's far northwest corner: "we will risk much to save human life. we will risk very little to save defensible structures. we will risk nothing to save trees." homes can be rebuilt. trees grow back. be safe.
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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Keeping the communities, firefighters, law enforcement, emergency management, support staff, Incident Management Teams, Public Info Officers in my thoughts. If I was younger and still an active PIO, I'd be headed northwest.
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Jim Whittington🔥 @jimwhittington.bsky.social · 25/07/2026
It was a rough Friday in Fire. A fourth member of the Rifle helitack crew, Nathan Matthews, died after sustaining burn injuries a month ago on the Knowles Fire. RIP Brother. 1/
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Arizona Mirror @azmirror.com · 24/07/2026
In President Trump's second term, the USDA has lost more than 20,000 employees. Union leaders say that thousands more will choose to leave instead of relocating across the country to regional USDA offices in places like Kansas City, Missouri; Indianapolis, Ind; Fort Collins, CO; and Salt Lake City.
azmirror.com
USDA union leaders rally against proposed DC downsizing | Arizona Mirror
A group of current and former USDA employees are calling on the Trump administration to halt the downsizing of its D.C. office.
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Anthony Edwards @edwardsanthonyb.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Some drought relief expected in Arizona this week though it will come with short-term flash flood risk, not too unusual during the summer monsoon. Slight (level 2 of 4) flood risk in parts of the state through Thursday. #AZwx
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Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
An even more remarkable map at 4pm local time as additional locations reach/break all-time temperature records in Montana, Wyoming, and Utah. Notably, multiple locations in eastern MT are in 110-115F range, & 109F breaks Salt Lake City's all-time record (again). #UTwx #MTwx #WYwx
4pm coolwx.com map showing locations with record-breaking temperatures. There are numerous such locations across the Northern Rockies and Northern Plains into the Upper Midwest.
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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
I worked with former federal employees whose stories are similar.
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Erin Strout @byerinstrout.com · 02/07/2026
I’m just glad the country has become united around the magic of John Denver. 🇺🇸
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Jim Whittington🔥 @jimwhittington.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Fire is multi-disciplinary. If the last couple of years have taught us anything, it's that science cannot stand alone. It's not enough to put it out there. You need to think through the uncomfortable stuff and build your knowledge base accordingly. And you need practitioner and academic allies. 8/8
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Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
The wildfire situation in the Southern Rockies continues to escalate. A new and fast-moving wind-driven fire today southwest of Pueblo, CO (#AspenAcresFire, near Beulah, circled in yellow) is of particular concern, and is currently burning through populated areas. #COwx
Current satellite snapshot zoomed in across Southern Rockies showing multiple large wildfire smoke plumes and heat signatures, with a particularly intense one just SW of Pueblo, CO.
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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
Thread from PIO buddy Jim.
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Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
NOAA SPC has once again upgraded today's fire weather risk in western Colorado & Four Corners region to "extremely critical"--marking rare third consecutive day. Multiple existing fires will likely make further large runs today, & new ignitions willl take off quickly. #COwx #AZwx
NOAA SPC fire outlook for today, which again shows an upgrade to extremely critical risk in western colorado and near the four corners.
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Michael Steinberg @norcalstormchasing.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Well it’s been a while, Bluesky. Just here to say that there are so many large wildfires occurring in the Great Basin/SW region, and are all going nuclear. Incredible to watch on satellite imagery.
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Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 28/06/2026
Remember: 1) Watch Duty (website /app) is the best tool to follow real time wildfire activity; 2) Under highly extreme fire weather conditions like theses, fires can & will do "seemingly impossible" things. Be prepared, be careful, & evacuate early if you sense potential danger.
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Daniel Swain @weatherwest.bsky.social · 27/06/2026
NOAA once again highlighting a rare, highest-end "extremely critical risk" region today around Four Corners/CO Western Slope for exceptionally adverse fire weather conditions amid severe drought. Numerous lightning holdovers are popping up during unusual summer wind event.
Map from NOAA SPC highlighting today's fire risk outlook in the Western United States. A huge region of elevated to critical risk is painted across most of the interior West, with a smaller bullseye of "extremely critical risk" near the Four Corners and Colorado West slope.
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Anthony Edwards @edwardsanthonyb.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Really rough week of fire weather incoming for the Four Corners. Large fires are already burning there, particularly in Utah, and more ignitions possible from dry lightning.
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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 18/06/2026
@wildfirediva.bsky.social Hang in there!
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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
I worked a few fires with Jim.
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Met Office - weather and climate @metoffice.gov.uk · 26/05/2026
Today is now the hottest day in May on record for both England and Wales with Kew Gardens provisionally reaching 35.1°C and Cardiff Bute Park reaching 32.9°C 🌡️
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EarthSky @earthskyscience.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
On June 8 and 9, 2026, #Venus and #Jupiter will have a spectacular conjunction. They'll be approximately 3-moon-widths apart (roughly 1.5 degrees). But you can start watching them get closer now! Click in for Northern and Southern Hemisphere charts and much more at: buff.ly/vOjhJuC
Sky chart with Venus and Jupiter very close together in the western evening sky, with Mercury lower near the horizon, and the word WOW in large type.
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Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
And this November, the blue wave will be as blue as Trump made the memorial pool. Democrat blue. All we can do in the meantime is keep fighting back on as many fronts as possible!
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Emily Atkin @emorwee.bsky.social · 07/05/2026
A Super El Niño is approaching, potentially the strongest El Niño we’ve seen in a century, and Trump is proposing to cut weather agency NOAA by 26 percent to save money for taxpayers Meanwhile the amount it’s proposing to cut from NOAA is equivalent to 1.3 days of taxpayer spending on the Iran war
heated.world
Trump’s NOAA cuts would save less than a day and a half of Iran War spending
There's always money for war. But when it comes to protecting people from climate disasters, suddenly we're told the cupboard is bare.
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Source New Mexico @sourcenm.com · 05/05/2026
A northern New Mexico land grant has signed an agreement with the Santa Fe National Forest intended to ease more than a century of tension.
buff.ly
‘Historic’ agreement between NM land grant and Forest Service to revitalize 200-year-old acequia • Source New Mexico
A new agreement between the Santa Fe National Forest and a New Mexico land grant is intended to ease tensions.
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Melissa Sevigny @melissasevigny.bsky.social · 05/05/2026
This little sprig is a third generation Apollo Moon Tree, set to be planted at Lowell Observatory. Space + botany, the best combo! 🌑🌱
A small sycamore sapling in a yellow pot beside a sign on an easel explaining it came from a seed that flew on an Apollo spacecraft
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Michael Wara @michaelwara.bsky.social · 26/04/2026
A great illustration from NM today of how recent wildfire burn scars can contain new fires. This is why you want a mosaic of burn scars (prescribed and wildfire) on the landscape. So any new fire gets boxed in by the old ones.
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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 24/04/2026
Compelling images from my PIO friend (in fact, she's in my former position.)
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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Coconino NF crunched the numbers: Roads = more human caused fires.
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AGU Science Policy @aguscipolicy.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
The FY2027 budget proposes cutting @USGS by 37% and eliminating the Ecosystems Mission Area entirely. This would end university research partnerships in all 50 states, flood forecasting, earthquake warnings, and more. Congress must reject these cuts. #DefendUSGS usgscoalition.org/-/media/1603...
usgscoalition.org
usgscoalition.org
USGS Coalition Statement on the President's FY2027 Budget Proposal for the U.S. Geological Survey
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Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) @repstansbury.bsky.social · 12/04/2026
Trump’s latest proposal to gut the U.S. Forest Service isn’t about efficiency—it’s about walking away from the stewardship of our nation’s forests. Fewer firefighters during fire season, less protection for watersheds. Doing so without Congressional approval—that’s why we are fighting back! 🌲
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Pat Bagley @bagleycartoons.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
The GOP liars are trying to frame moving the Forest Service to SLC as “streamlining” government. Bullshit. Republicans are NEVER about improving government services. They are ALWAYS about selling off our birthright to their rich donor asshole buddies I am incandescent with rage
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EarthSky @earthskyscience.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
On any evening this month, look for the asterism of the #BigDipper high in the northeastern sky. You can’t miss the arrangement of its 7 bright stars. From there, you can "arc to Arcturus and speed on to Spica” to identify 2 of the night sky’s brightest stars. 🌌🌟🔭 buff.ly/ZBUsfVO 📸 EarthSky.org.
Star chart: Big Dipper with pink arrows from handle to Arcturus and then to Spica.
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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
25.
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Alt US Forest Service @altusfs.altgov.info · 04/04/2026
Most prescient, clear/eyed work of writing I’ve read on reorg. Read it. Then act. “Call your senators. Call your representative. Not next week or later. Now. Tell them this is not a reorganization — it’s the destruction of a federal agency by executive fiat and that Congress must intervene.”
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Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · 04/04/2026
What will happen to the 82 USFS experimental forests around the country? Many sites have decades-long experiments that are tracking how forests are changed by timber harvesting practices and climate change. As I say here, “you can't just pick up an experimental forest site and move it to SLC.”
science.org
U.S. Forest Service unveils extensive closures of research facilities
Cost-cutting move is expected to cause resignations and turmoil
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Dr. Samantha Montano @samlmontano.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Every single one of these agencies does science that emergency managers rely on to be able to do their jobs.
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Melissa Sevigny @melissasevigny.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
Flagstaff friends, I'm teaching a (free!) nature writing workshop Tuesday at Willow Bend Environmental Center at 5pm. Also, Thin Air magazine has other workshops coming up on comics and the science of storytelling, so keep an eye out! #writing
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Steve Pyne @sjpyne.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
Researching for a fire history of the Kaibab Plateau - my response to the Dragon Bravo fire -I found the jobs and pay for fed firefighters in 1946. You could be a legit flunky (paid more than an unskilled firefighter). Glad to see smokechasing as a distinctive category. Highest paid? Head cook.
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National Weather Service @nws.noaa.gov · 20/03/2026
The ongoing record-breaking heat wave in the West will continue while expanding across the Central U.S. through the weekend. Based on preliminary data, there have been around 50 March high temperature records broken since March 17 and more than 150 daily high temperature records broken.
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rionchama 🖤💛 @rionchama.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Monday, the House unanimously passed Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández’ bill, HR 4284, the Small Cemetery Conveyance Act. The bill would remove long-standing federal obstacles for rural, Tribal and land-grant communities to care for ancestral cemeteries located on National Forest lands.
rdrnews.com
Small Cemetery Conveyance Act passes in the House
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, the House unanimously passed Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández’s (D-NM-03) bill, House Resolution 4284, the Small Cemetery Conveyance Act. The bill would remove long-s...
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kmclark.bsky.social @kmclark.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
From a purple dot.
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