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No. 65                                                                                          March 2022
Release of the 2022
NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide
The 2022 NWCG IRPG, PMS 461 is now available to download online and for purchase through the Great Basin Cache (GBK).

The guide provides critical information on operational engagement, risk management, fire environment, all hazard response, and aviation management. It is a collection of guidelines, checklists, and best practices that have evolved over time within wildland fire operations.
 
Accessing Wildland Fire Research: A Guide for Fire Practitioners

The wildland fire landscape in the Southeastern U.S. is complex, with many social and physical factors impacting management decision-making. Understanding the latest fire science helps ensure that fire practitioners are able to adapt to an ever-changing environment and make decisions fully informed by the best available information.

Unfortunately, accessing science can be difficult for those not affiliated with a research institution. Many scientific journals are “paywalled,” requiring paid subscriptions to access published articles. Practitioners who do have access to research often struggle to find the time to read published papers.

Southern Fire Exchange's recent fact sheet outlines practical ways for fire practitioners and other professionals to access fire science research.
New Wildland Fire Interagency Training Website

The Southern Area Interagency Training Website has been collaboratively developed by training officers representing a variety of federal and state agencies, this new website will help simplify the search for training opportunities in the Southern Area. All upcoming 300/400/500-level courses and Wildland Fire Academies, along with a number of local (100 and 200-level) courses, are now found in one searchable calendar. Nomination forms are linked to the calendar, as appropriate. You can also advertise your upcoming local trainings using the new request form!
A video from the NC Wildlife Resources Commissions explains their objectives for employing to restore and maintain wildlife habitat on most of the 2 million acres of state game lands used by hunters, anglers, and wildlife watchers throughout North Carolina.
USFS Shared Stewardship Strategy Research Report

The final report from the second year of research about the US Forest Service's Shared Stewardship Strategy is available. The Public Lands Policy Group (PLPG) at Colorado State University, the Ecosystem Workforce Program at University of Oregon, and the University of Georgia are jointly conducting this five-year study to understand Shared Stewardship perspectives from agency leaders, state officials, land managers, and other stakeholders in states where Shared Stewardship partnerships exist.

Through nearly 65 interviews in 2021 with agencies and partners across seven Eastern states, findings illustrate broad perspectives on the future collaborative, landscape-scale approaches to forest management.
Federal Affairs

Several developments at the federal level may impact prescribed fire operations in the South:
National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook for February - May 2022 Released

The significant wildland fire potential forecasts included in this outlook represent the cumulative forecasts of the ten Geographic Area Predictive Services units and the National Predictive Services unit. See forecasts on fire-impactful weather across the U.S. or specific to your area as well as reflection on past weather events.  
5 Biggest Threats to US Southern Forests

The Southern Group of State Foresters has outlined the five biggest threats to southern forests, along with what state forestry agencies and partners are doing to address them. At #1 was wildfire - highlighting how South is known for being a leader in safe and strategic application of prescribed fire.
USFS: Wildfire Crisis Strategy for General Audiences

The Forest Service recently announced a new effort intended to reduce the wildfire risk for people, communities, and natural resources in high-risk “firesheds.” The report, “Confronting the Wildfire Crisis: A Strategy for Protecting Communities and Improving Resilience in America’s Forests,” lays out the context, rationale and work needed, in terms suitable for general audiences. This report can be helpful for sharing with landowners, students, and other larger audiences.
This graphic from Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges (TREX) shares their information gathered from 2008-2021 reporting on the number of events, participants, diversity, etc.
Prescribed Fire News Roundup
Prescribed Fire Effects on Soil Fertility (USFS Southern Research Station)

AFAC News and the Forest Fire Management Group have revised the "National Position on Prescribed Burning" to better reflect a holistic approach to use of fire in the landscape.

Farmer Campus Self-led Online Course to help farmers build wildfire resilience.
The Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund request for proposals (RFP) for 2022 has been released, with proposals due Tuesday, March 15, 2022 by 11:59 PM ET.

USDA to Invest $1 Billion in Climate Smart Commodities, Expanding Markets, Strengthening Rural America, Funding will be provided in two funding pools, and applicants must submit their applications via Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on: April 8, 2022, for the first funding pool (proposals from $5 million to $100 million), and May 27, 2022, for the second funding pool (proposals from $250,000 to $4,999,999).
Job Opportunities
Sandhills Stewardship and Fire Manager Position, The Nature Conservancy North Carolina

Fire Management Specialist (Prescribed Fire Focus), Central Pine Barrens Joint Planning and Policy Commission via Suffolk County Water Authority

Various Positions, The Ember Alliance
Upcoming & On-Demand Webinars (Times Eastern)
Prescribed Fire Council Meetings
April 5 - North Florida Prescribed Fire Council Spring Meeting (Registration coming soon)

June 9 - Georgia Prescribed Fire Council‘s “North Georgia Prescribed Fire Meeting”
Prescribed Burner Certification Courses
April 28-30 - Prescribed Burn School, Florien, LA

June 13-16 - Southern Area Interagency Prescribed Fire Training Session, Chattanooga, TN
Conferences, Workshops, Festivals, and Other Events
March 9 - North Carolina Longleaf Pine Summit, Virtual
March 28-April 8 - Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (WTREX), Wakefield, VA
April 23 - Party for the Pine Fire Festival, Southern Pines, NC
May 2-5 - National Tribal Forum on Air Quality, Tulsa, OK
May 7 - Wildfire Community Preparedness Day, Everywhere
May 23-27 - Fire & Climate Impacts, Issues, and Futures Conference, Pasadena, CA &
Melbourne, Australia
May 24-27 - Southern Blue Ridge Fire Learning Network Workshop, Dillard, GA
October 4-7 - Fire Ecology Across Boundaries, Florence, Italy
October 25-28 - Biennial Longleaf Conference, Wilmington, NC
Multiple Dates - Alabama Learn to Burn Workshops (March - June)
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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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