What is MO's?

Hi! My name is Olivia. I found my passion for data-driven wildfire prevention and defensible space through a mix of my recreational interests and academic pursuits. As an avid outdoor recreationalist, stewardship to the land we live, work, and play on comes inherently.

I was born in Reno, NV and moved to Colorado at a young age. Colorado, Nevada and California face many of the same challenges when it comes to wildfire. Growing up I watched wildfires devastate neighboring communities and threaten my own.

I attended Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO. Torn between interests in biology, history, and political science, I ended up receiving my degree in history with a focus on land use in the West and a minor in biology and political science.

After graduation, I returned to the Reno/Tahoe area and continued learning about wildfire ecology. I took a position with the Truckee Fire Protection District as a Defensible Space Specialist. In my tenure, I performed over 1,000 defensible space inspections in the surrounding Truckee areas.

I decided to start my own defensible space company with my partner, Michael, because on the public sector side of things, I witnessed a broad disconnect between the fire department, residents, and contractors. As a defensible space inspector, I encountered countless defensible space contractors that did not understand the defensible space they were offering. This dynamic led to extra work for everyone, with the resident in the middle of it all. At a certain point, I realized it would be more effective if I just went out there and did the work myself.

Olivia Anderson

Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist, NFPA

Meet the Team:

MO's Defensible Space is a collaborative effort between Michael Stohlgren and Olivia Anderson (MO) who share the ultimate goal of helping better prepare their local communities for the next wildfire.

Our team is intentionally small so that we can always maintain the highest level of quality in our work. When you hire MO's, you can expect Michael and Olivia to be with you every step of the way, from the initial site visit to the final sweep.

Michael Stohlgren

Environmental Scientist, MS

Hi! My name is Michael. I love science, the outdoors, and the constant state of learning that this field has introduced me to.

I grew up in Fort Collins, CO. As the son of a renowned plant ecologist, I was always outdoors learning about plant and forest health. I spent my summers visiting my family in Tahoe City, CA where I would always try to earn a little extra money by raking up pine needles for my uncles and their neighbors.

In the Spring of 2020, I graduated with my master's degree from the School of Environmental Studies at Western Colorado University. The multidisciplinary program helped introduce me to the science of defensible space while attending a wildfire conference in the wake of the West Fork Fire Complex in SW Colorado.

When I moved to the Reno/Tahoe area in 2021 to be closer to family, I was excited to hear the buzz around "defensible space." Unfortunately, the work that was taking place, at my family's houses and otherwise, didn't resemble the data-driven defensible space that I was familiar with. I knew there was a disconnect, and I wanted to help bridge that divide.

I hope to bring to the table a blend of academia into our everyday landscaping decisions. The science is sound, and as practitioners, we need to do our part ensure we are making the best land management discissions possible.