The article linked below highlights ongoing work to create the country's first Wildland Fire Module to be directly managed by a tribal nation. The project comes from a partnership between the US Forest Service and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. A Wildland Fire Module is a type of handcrew that specializes in managing fires for natural resource benefit, in line with fire's natural role in an ecosystem.
Happy New Year to everyone in our southern prescribed fire community! We are looking forward to supporting the good work you all do in 2023.
The peak of fire occurrence in the southeast is typically in late winter or early spring. That is right around the corner but historically fire activity is still relatively low in January. This may be a good time to catch up on training and development before the pace of fire management work in the region ramps up and wildfire response dominates. Check the Southern Area Coordination Center's Predictive
Services page for the most current fire potential outlook. Here are some training resources that may be useful in preparing for the upcoming season:
Three counties in northern Arkansas worked together with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to create the Ozark Mountain Prescribed Burn Association, the state's seventh PBA. Arkansas landowners interested in joining this or any of the other PBAs may refer to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission website linked below to find the appropriate contact information for their area.
The Grindstone Fire at Pilot Mountain: A Success Story
A recent article and video published by the North Carolina Forest Service describe how the prescribed fire program at Pilot Mountain State Park contributed to a largely positive ecological outcome after the 2021 Grindstone Fire.
A First-Hand Account of the Future of Fire Management in Longleaf
Pine Ecosystems
The Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center published a summary of a recent paper in Fire Ecology in which fire managers were surveyed for their perspectives on what prescribed fire work will look like in the southeast over the next several decades. The short answer? Challenging. The study identifies fire managers' main priorities and constraints in navigating that challenging future.
Webinar: How States Can Better Budget for Wildfires
Pew Charitable Trusts hosted a webinar with a panel of experts to discuss how states are handling their budgets to deal with increasingly expensive wildfire management. Much of the discussion is inspired by a recent Pew study that identified the main wildfire-related budgeting issues that state governments face, and recommendations for addressing those issues.
Calling for planning proposals focused on catalyzing innovative and inclusive wildland fire science through collaboration among diverse stakeholders and rights holders.
Budget requests must not exceed $100,000 per year (including indirect costs) for a total of $200,000,
with a duration of up to 24 months.
50% reimbursement (up to $2000) for North Carolina residents within an eight-county region to hire out a contractor or rent equipment to reduce their home’s risk of ignition from wildfire.
Preference given to homes or communities within a moderate-to-high wildfire risk area. Check out this recent blog entry that explains the cost-share process.
