Meet Kary Maddox, who grew up in Saint Maries but quickly left to see the world. She’s a fire public information officer for the U.S Forest Service and also a mother, wife, proud veteran and dog lover. After eight years in the U.S. Marine Corps, she went to college in Colorado but always knew North Idaho would always be home. From landing her dream job with the Forest Service in 2014 “getting paid to walk around in the woods” (and do science) to finding her calling in emergency communications, each step has built on the last, leading to unexpected opportunities and renewed purpose.

1) How did you come to be a fire expert and information officer for Idaho Panhandle National Forests?

Oh goodness, I am certainly not an expert! The way I view my position is as a communicator for the experts. After completing my undergraduate degree in environmental science, I started working for the Coeur d'Alene River Ranger District as a biological science technician. During my years in that job, I spent nearly every day in the forest, collecting data so that our specialists could evaluate the effects of a given activity on the landscape (logging, road building, restoration work, etc.). I cherish that experience because it helped me understand the breadth of responsibility of our agency and the interconnectedness with tribal, state and local partners, including my own community. During the very busy 2015 fire season, I started working in wildland fire as a prescribed fire crew member, wildland firefighter and public information officer. I have since completed a Master’s in Natural Resources, and shifting to the fire management organization did not feel like a change of careers, but more like the logical next step in my natural resources career. I rely heavily on my natural resource background since fire is, in many instances, an ecosystem process.

2) How do you stay calm and collected during a time of chaos, like when a wildfire rips through an area close to town?

In emergency situations, my greatest strength is empathy. Drawing on my own experiences of evacuating from some historic and catastrophic wildfires helps to keep things in perspective and focus on the best ways to communicate timely, relevant and accurate messages to the community. We all know the helpless feeling that comes from dealing with something beyond our control, so I keep that in mind when people inevitably get stressed out and overwhelmed. Being able to connect people with the information and resources they need to stay safe makes it all worth it! I’ve very much enjoyed the people I’ve met along the way.

3) What are your thoughts about the 2023 fire season, and how can we be more proactive about preventing wildfires?

This is such a complex topic, but there are a couple of key points worth emphasizing. As most folks are aware, wildfires are becoming more intense, and fire seasons are lasting longer. While fire can play a natural role in the ecosystem, the most hazardous fires are often human-caused because they are usually ignited in areas where fire poses the most risk to life and property. Addressing the alarming trend of nearly 90% of wildfires being human-caused requires prevention efforts. Prevention falls on each and every one of us to respect the tenacity of fire and understand all of the ways a wildfire can be started; escaped campfires and debris burns are all too common, but dragging chains, a carelessly discarded cigarette butt, the lack of spark arrestors on equipment or improper firearm use can all lead to wildfires, and that is by no means an exhaustive list. The best way to be proactive about wildfires is to start at home. Reducing flammable material around your house helps to create a “defensible space,” lessening the chance of a home ignition and providing safer conditions for firefighters to defend your home. There are some wonderful programs to assist with information, property assessments and even funding in some cases. Kootenai County residents can look up Kootenai County FireSmart 208-446-1779 and Idaho Firewise for more information on these interagency fire prevention efforts. Last but not least, signing up for emergency alerts and knowing where to look for official information are crucial steps toward being ready for wildfire.

4) What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

The first thing that comes to mind, based on past reactions to this information, is the fact that I was homeschooled my entire childhood. My son graduated from the public school system and had some wonderful teachers along the way. There are pros and cons to both paths, but I enjoy challenging stereotypes and feel like my college experience has now led to a well-rounded education.

5) When you're not helping to manage an emergency or keep the community informed during a crisis situation, what do you do for fun?

We like to get into everything that ties us to this beautiful region; from the usual list like hiking and paddling to some more unusual activities like dog skijoring, we will take any excuse to responsibly enjoy the plentiful public lands of the Idaho Panhandle. My husband and I also hunt together, but bringing home mushrooms is just as satisfying for me as a successful hunt. In the winter, things shift to home projects, quilting and home cooking — to balance out the busy summer.

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Do you know someone in Kootenai County who makes our community awesome? Send Fast Five suggestions to Devin Weeks, dweeks@cdapress.com, to highlight locals who contribute their time and talents to make North Idaho such a special place.