Fran's experience with forestry and wildfires began when she met her future husband George E. Belden and took a Forestry class at Shasta College, which he taught. Being married to George gave her insight into forest management practices and fire suppression. When George served as the Executive Officer of the California Tree Farm Committee, he asked Fran to help as his secretary, which she did for five years.  Eventually, the couple bought 160 acres of forest land and learned to manage it as a Tree Farm.