The July Driptorch Digest is Now Available!

The U.S. Wildland Fire Service has announced immediate interim measures to reduce firefighter exposure to toxic smoke, ash, and airborne particulates on the fireline. Developed by the Federal Wildland Firefighter Health and Wellbeing Program, a joint effort between the Departments of the Interior and Agriculture, these guidelines authorize federal firefighters to use N95 respirators during active operations for the first time, provided they complete specialized training. Because no respirator is currently fully certified for extreme wildland firefighting conditions, these science-informed steps offer a crucial immediate defense against long-term respiratory health risks.

In addition to inhalation hazards, the new directives tackle the issue of lingering contaminants on skin and gear. The agency is standardizing on-the-job decontamination protocols, which include expanding access to showers, routine equipment cleaning, and clean-air recovery periods during fire assignments. Crucially, firefighters will now be compensated for the time spent performing these decontamination practices. These updates represent an important interim milestone in safeguarding personnel health and wellbeing as the agency works toward long-term, OSHA-aligned respiratory protection programs.

A simplified, clean-line illustration of a metal drip torch on a white background. The torch is shown at a slight angle, highlighting the cylindrical fuel tank, top handle, and
the long spout with its distinctive pigtail loop leading to the igniter tip.

As we head into the July Fourth weekend, it is a good time to remember to be safe using fireworks. Regions of the Southeast are still experiencing significant drought, and Eastern Texas and Louisiana will experience above-normal wildland fire potential in July and August. These drought conditions will heighten the wildfire risk posed from home fireworks. Many fire officials recommend viewing professional firework celebrations instead of lighting home fireworks.

If you decide to use fireworks for Fourth of July this year, check out this short selection of useful resources below on firework safety and best practices:

Firework Safety article from the Texas A&M Forest Service
Firework Safety Resources from the National Fire Protection Organization

Monthly Update for Prescribed Burn Associations in the Southeast

Conducting spring growing-season burns on small-acreage tracts presents unique hurdles, but meticulous planning can help private landowners successfully restore their ecosystems. In a recent article from The Longleaf Alliance, Restoration Coordinator Mark McClellan describes a recent prescribed burn success story on a small burn unit in Georgia. The article outlines strategic approaches to overcoming the challenges of burning smaller properties, where a lack of heavy equipment and tight boundaries amplify risks. Careful preparation of firebreaks and careful observation of weather forecasts help ensure that smoke is safely routed away from nearby smoke-sensitive neighbors.

To learn about picking the right burning day for your land, a webinar will be held on July 23, 2026 at 6:00 PM ET. Registration is available now!

A new incident review map from the Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center has been released for fire practitioners to review lessons from fire incidents in their local region.

For more resources on PBAs, please visit the Southeast Prescribed Fire Update website, under the "Prescribed Burn Associations" tab.

A recent article from The Pilot highlighted a recent success story in the North Carolina Sandhills region on The Nature Conservancy's management lands. During a period of high fire activity in Moore County last April, an eight-acre wildfire moving toward a residential area was contained when it reached an adjacent plot of land that had undergone a prescribed burn one month earlier. This incident demonstrates how strategic fuel reduction can mitigate fire intensity and protect nearby homes. Local forestry officials and Burn Boss Alan Teed emphasize that these meticulous, weather-dependent prescribed fires are essential proactive safety measures for preventing wildfire spread.

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Risk Management Committee has issued a safety bulletin following a noticeable spike in heat-related illnesses and rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) among wildland firefighters in May, June, and July. Surprisingly, data shows a high percentage of these severe muscle-breakdown cases occur during early-season Work Capacity Tests (the "pack test") rather than active fire suppression, often because elite crew members ignore pain before they are fully acclimated to the heat. Because delayed symptoms like severe swelling or tea-colored urine may not appear for two to three days, the NWCG has revitalized its medical education resources to help fire personnel immediately recognize, report, and treat this highly individualized and life-threatening condition.

An Oklahoma State University Extension fact sheet highlights the stark contrast in how managed and unmanaged Cross Timbers forests respond to intense wildfire. Research showed that forest plots previously treated with prescribed fire and canopy reduction experienced significantly less tree mortality because dangerous ladder fuels, like invasive eastern redcedar, had already been removed. While the understory vegetation in all areas grew back rapidly within three months of a wildfire, the previously managed plots rebounded with high-quality perennial grasses suitable for livestock and wildlife, whereas unmanaged stands were dominated by less desirable annual weeds.

A recent article from the Indigenous Leadership Initiative addresses common myths surrounding Indigenous cultural fire. While often confused with agency-led prescribed burns, true cultural fire is deeply rooted in Indigenous governance, territory lineage, and wide-ranging land stewardship that extends far beyond small, localized communities. The article highlights that this ancient practice is fully compatible with modern management practices. Indigenous fire keepers actively adjust their traditional methods, such as incorporating mechanical thinning when heavy fuel loads exist, to safely restore forest health, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the risk of high-intensity wildfires today.

New research from UC Davis suggests that investing in forest fuel treatments yields substantial financial and societal returns and reduced wildfire spread and severity. Researchers analyzed nearly 300 wildfires across the western United States to demonstrate that every dollar spent on forest thinning and prescribed burns saves approximately $3.75 in overall wildfire damages. Forest fuel treatments reduced total burned acreage by 36% and significantly lowered the occurrence of devastating, high-severity crown fires. An estimated $2.8 billion in avoided losses extends far beyond saving infrastructure, directly preventing premature deaths and saving over a billion dollars by curbing toxic smoke pollution and carbon emissions.

A recent publication from the U.S. Forest Service discusses integrating stream and river restoration into fire planning as a cost-effective strategy for creating highly resilient "wet fuel breaks" in valleys and meadows. Using unmarketable wood and debris to mimic natural beaver dams raises local water tables and significantly boosts soil moisture. This innovative technique directly strengthens natural fire containment lines and serves as a reliable boundary for future prescribed burning operations. Restoring these vital wetlands allows landscapes to better withstand wildfires, provides a safe refuge for fish and wildlife, and naturally filters post-fire ash and sediment from downstream waters.

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)

N.C. Forest Service Disaster Mitigation Program

The N.C. Forest Service is accepting applications through its new Disaster Mitigation Program to assist public and private landowners in reducing heightened wildfire risks across 39 counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. Funded by a grant from the USDA Forest Service, this program aims to lower the risk of catastrophic wildfire impacts to homes, infrastructure, and natural resources by targeting hazardous fuel buildup and fallen timber at no cost to the landowner.

Funding available for:

Hazard reduction prescribed burning
Home ignition zone treatments (defensible space creation)
Fuel break and road restoration to reopen emergency access routes

Application deadline: Ongoing until funds are fully exhausted

2026 Longleaf Cost Share Assistance Program

The Georgia Wildlife Federation (GWF) is accepting applications through its Longleaf Cost Share Assistance Program to assist private landowners in establishing new stands of longleaf pine. GWF will provide cost-share of up to $4,000 per landowner for new longleaf pine stand establishment and $15 per acre (up to $1,000 per landowner) for management of existing longleaf pine stands.

Funding available for:

Establishing new stands of longleaf pine, including site preparation and planting
Management of existing longleaf pine stands

Application deadline: July 10

Texas A&M Forest Service Prescribed Fire Grants

The Texas A&M Forest Service is accepting applications through its Prescribed Fire Grants program to assist private landowners and municipalities across Texas in implementing planned, low-intensity burns. The program aims to protect high-risk communities from catastrophic wildfires by reducing hazardous fuel loads while simultaneously promoting ecosystem restoration and improving rangeland health.

Funding available for multiple opportunities:

Application deadline: July 14

Texas A&M Forest Service Mechanical Fuel Reduction Grant

The Texas A&M Forest Service is accepting applications through its Mechanical Fuel Reduction Grant program to assist private landowners and municipalities across Texas in creating defensible space or fuel breaks for protection against wildfire. The program aims to protect high-risk communities from catastrophic wildfires by reducing hazardous fuel loads through mechanical fuel reduction.

Funding available for:

Creating defensible space and/or fuel breaks with hand cutting tools, chainsaws, chippers, and/or forestry mulcher/masticator

Application deadline: July 14

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.

NC State University promotes equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination and harassment based upon one’s race; color; religion (including belief and non-belief); sex, including but not limited to pregnancy, childbirth, or other related medical condition, parenting, and sexual harassment; sexual orientation; actual or perceived gender identity; age; national origin; disability; veteran status; or genetic information.

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.