The August Driptorch Digest is Now Available!

The Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) is a powerful, research-based tool for prescribed fire practitioners across the Southeast. Developed by the US Forest Service, FEIS provides in-depth, peer-reviewed syntheses on how fire affects over 1,200 plant, lichen, and animal species. These Species Reviews, along with Fire Studies and Fire Regime Syntheses and Reports, help land managers plan burns more effectively by understanding historical fire patterns, typical fire behavior, and species-specific fire responses. FEIS is continuously updated to ensure users have access to the latest science.

By combining ecological insights with practical fire knowledge, FEIS is particularly useful for prescribed burners looking to better understand how fire affects both native and invasive species in their burn units. The system highlights how invasive species may respond to fire, whether they are likely to increase or decrease in abundance, and offers practical insights for incorporating this knowledge into burn planning. Whether you're crafting burn objectives, writing burn plans, or evaluating long-term habitat goals, FEIS provides the defensible, science-based information needed to support prescribed fire efforts in the Southeast.

It's time to start prepping for the upcoming prescribed burn season! Take some time to sit down to input and plan your tentative burn plans into the Rx Burn Planner website, which helps you to organize your burns efficiently, helping you assess resources, staffing, and strategies ahead of time. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the latest guidelines so your burn plans use the best practices, setting you up for success when it's time to put fire on the ground in the upcoming months.

Additionally, it’s the perfect time of the year to take the time to work on equipment maintenance. Ensure your hand tools, drip torches, and chainsaws are in top working order before the season kicks off. For help on maintaining your gear, check out the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s fuel handling resources and safety data sheets from Forestry Suppliers. Additionally, you can watch this informative YouTube video on equipment maintenance to get visual insights. Prioritizing maintenance will help ensure that your equipment is reliable when it's time to burn!

Senators Ted Budd (R‑NC) and Ron Wyden (D‑OR) recently introduced the bipartisan National Prescribed Fire Act of 2025, which aims to expand and streamline prescribed burning nationwide, especially during cooler, wetter months. The bill includes provisions to increase prescribed acres, support workforce development (including for tribes and private landowners), improve smoke management tools, and ease permitting restrictions. For the Southeast, where prescribed fire is vital for longleaf and pine ecosystems, this legislation promises to accelerate fuel reduction, enhance cross-boundary fire partnerships, and strengthen local fire resilience efforts.

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) has released updated Incident Position Standards and new Next Generation Position Task Books for Firefighter Type 1 (Squad Boss) and Incident Commander Type 5. These resources are part of a broader modernization effort to improve training and performance support for wildland fire personnel. As Southeast prescribed fire continues to grow in complexity and collaboration, these updated tools can help strengthen leadership capacity on the fireline and support safe, effective operations across agencies and organizations.

The Trump administration’s fiscal year 2026 “skinny budget” proposes eliminating funding for the U.S. Forest Service’s State, Private, and Tribal Forestry program, which has been a cornerstone of wildfire resilience and land stewardship funding across states and tribes ($300M annually). These appropriations fund critical fuel reduction, forest health, and prescribed burn initiatives, especially in the Southeast where private lands and cross-boundary fire work are essential. If enacted, the cuts could severely constrain local fire partnerships and reduce capacity for prescribed fire training and implementation across our region.

Registration is now open for the 11th International Fire Ecology & Management Congress! This year, the event will will take place in New Orleans from December 2-6, 2025. The schedule includes pre‑Congress workshops and trainings on December 2, three full days of plenary sessions, concurrent presentations, poster sessions, and networking opportunities from December 3-5, and off-site field trips on December 6. The calls for poster presentations, meetings, and activities all close on August 25. Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Private lands burners and Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs) will take center stage at the International AFE Congress on December 4, with a full day of sessions, workshops, fire circles, and a lively evening mixer. It's a chance to celebrate private lands fire, connect with others in the fire community, and share your local efforts with a global audience. One-day registration and travel scholarships for PBAs will also be available! Email Jenn Fawcett (jennifer_fawcett@ncsu.edu ) by August 8th if you would like to present at the takeover!

Multiple NRCS Funding Programs

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service offers several funding programs that may be used to support prescribed burning. Many private landowners in the South have already taken advantage of these programs but this year there may be more funding available than in previous years. Programs vary by area, so check out the information pages listed below:
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)

The Driptorch Digest is distributed by NC State University as a project of the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS) Prescribed Fire Working Group.

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This newsletter is made possible through a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with support from the USDA Forest Service and the Department of Defense.