The February Driptorch Digest is Now Available

Our hearts and sympathies go out to those affected by the wildfires in California. Today, shown through fires like the Palisades fire, highlights an increasing frequency and intensity of fire weather in the U.S., driven by climate change. Data was analyzed from 476 weather stations and the report shows that fire weather, which involves high temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds, is becoming more common, especially in the West. Some regions, like Southern California and Arizona, now experience up to two more months of fire weather each year, with the greatest increases occurring in the spring and summer.

While the West has seen the most dramatic changes, parts of the East, especially in the Southeast, have also experienced increases in fire weather days, especially in the spring. These shifts raise the risk of larger wildfires, highlighting a need for communities to adopt strategies like land management and creating defensible space to reduce fire risk.

After Hurricane Helene, fire managers face challenges like road damage, increased fuel loads, and disrupted fire plans. Some tips for managing recovery:

Access: Prioritize clearing roads and trails, and keep partners updated on their status. Be ready for more tree falls after storms.
Fuel Loading: Expect longer burn prep times due to downed timber. Update burn plans and use aerial imagery to assess fuel loads.
Contingency Plans: Expand firelines and burn units to account for increased fuel and road damage. Natural fire barriers may no longer be reliable.
Wildfire Risk: Monitor debris burning, check communication systems, and educate the public to prevent accidental fires.
Mental Health: Support fire practitioners emotionally, as they often face trauma from both wildfires and disaster recovery.
Future Storms: Prepare for more frequent hurricanes due to climate change. Track recovery costs for possible FEMA reimbursements.

These tips help fire managers adapt to storm damage and improve future wildfire preparedness. Read more about preparedness here.

Smoke management in prescribed burns relies on predicting smoke movement, with various models available to assist burn planners in forecasting smoke impacts. This fact sheet highlights tools like the Simple Smoke Screening Tool, VSmoke, PB-Piedmont, and BlueSky Playground help predict smoke dispersion, air quality, and potential health risks based on inputs like weather, fuel type, and burn location, providing essential data for managing smoke and minimizing adverse effects.

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)

Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation has announced the 2025 Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund RFP, offering approximately $31 million in funding for projects that accelerate longleaf pine restoration on both private and public lands, with an emphasis on wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, water quality, and forest resilience, while also supporting bottomland hardwood restoration and engaging local communities, including underserved landowners.
All proposals must specifically address how projects will directly and measurably contribute to the longleaf pine and associated species goals outlined in the Longleaf Forest and Rivers Business Plan.
Full proposals are due Wednesday, February 5, 2025, by 11:59 PM EST.
Applicant webinar on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, 3-4:30 EST. Registration required- register here.

Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is now accepting applications for the third round of the Community Wildfire Defense Grant program, part of President Biden’s Investing in America Agenda, with up to $200 million in funding available to help at-risk communities, including tribes, mitigate wildfire risks and implement wildfire resilience projects. Grants can range from $250,000 for planning to $10 million for projects, with priority given to areas with high wildfire hazard potential, low-income communities, and those impacted by past disasters.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to develop proposals in consultation with state or Forest Service regional cooperative fire contacts listed in the Notices of Funding Opportunity.
Applications accepted until February 28, 2025, 11:59 PM EST
There are several two-hour applicant webinars about the grant application process. Webinar dates and information will be posted on the Community Wildfire Defense Grant webpage. Register at https://www.fs.usda.gov/managing-land/fire/grants/cwdg.

Pilot Program: Investing in America Grant

The Biden-Harris Administration has announced $20 million in funding to help local governments strengthen wildfire response by purchasing slip-on tanker units to convert vehicles into wildland fire engines.
This funding is part of a pilot program aimed at supporting small, remote emergency response agencies in expanding their wildfire capacity, particularly in areas facing the impacts of climate change and increasing wildfire activity.
Local governments serving populations of 50,000 or fewer can apply for grants ranging from $10,000 to $500,000, with applications due by February 26, 2025.
This initiative is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which allocates $50 million to this program and over $1.1 billion in total for wildfire mitigation and firefighting support across the U.S.

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.