MANAGING TIMBER
Working in the woods and wetlands in much of the lower 48 states and Alaska was not only a job but a way of life for Jim Freestone. Whether hiking, snow shoeing, riding a snowmobile or 4-wheeling, he spent 3 decades learning about forest health and management. As timber administrator on the Beaverhead/Deerlodge NF his duties often included coordination between landowners, contractors and the federal and state regulatory agencies. Managing timber harvests in sensitive zones provided experience encompassing soil, water, fish, wildlife, and livestock concerns. His years of experience in road and trail layout meeting aesthetic and environmental concerns has earned him several awards from the USDA and the USDI.
FIRE MANAGEMENT & POWER SAW CERTIFIER
While in fire management Jim protected over 1,000,000 acres of National Forest, State and BLM lands. He was also in charge of the resources necessary to provide that protection and supervised many greenhorns as they became seasoned fire fighters. Jim began to recognize the need for a more comprehensive saw training program. He and a few other safety minded fire management officers wrote the standards for power saw safety and certification which has been accepted nationally. Performing as a power saw certifier, Jim has trained hundreds of students all over the United States as well as overseas. Jim’s fire management achievements include recognition from the State of Montana and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation for wildlife habitat improvement and riparian management as well as recognition for his leadership skills while under the stress of wildfire suppression.
Knowledge of structural fire protection acquired while performing as Fire Chief for a rural fire department expanded his knowledge base to include many aspects of fire prevention and preparedness for both forest and urban interface; as well as defensible space planning, hazard tree reduction and post fire erosion.
