The rise of highly destructive megafires -- wildfires over 100,000 acres -- has become one of today's most pressing and complex problems. Our communities, homes, businesses, and many of our beloved landscapes are threatened by them. Facing the reality of this issue can be nothing short of daunting. But if we are willing to make critical changes to how we manage our forests, we can change the way fires come to them. With the goals of showing how we got here and what we can ultimately do about it, "Era of Megafires" is a 60-minute multi-media presentation that combines the internationally celebrated research of Dr. Paul Hessburg (Pacific Northwest Research Station, U.S. Forest Service) with the visual storytelling of award-winning film company, North 50 Productions. Join Dr. Hessburg as he tackles a variety of topics including fire's historical role on landscapes, how forest management has led to significant ecological changes in our forests, the role of climate change, the rapidly expanding wildland-urban interface (WUI), and a cohesive strategy for helping our forests become fire-resilient again.

Local fire experts will be on hand for a panel discussion after the film that is facilitated by Doug Paul, Mitigation Specialist for the BLM. This event is presented in partnership with the Grand Junction Fire Department and the BLM. Seating is limited, and registration is required.