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DRIPTORCH DIGEST
A Newsletter for the Southern Prescribed Fire Community
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Welcome to the Driptorch Digest,
an online newsletter for the Southern prescribed fire community.
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to others who might be interested, and encourage them to sign up for their own subscription by clicking on the "subscribe" link at the bottom of this newsletter, or by visiting the Southeast Prescribed Fire Update blog to receive this newsletter as well as other occasional fire-related blog posts.
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Spotlight: Southeast Cohesive Fire Management Strategy Success Story
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Credit: Civil Air Patrol
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Interagency Partnerships Enable the U.S. Air Force to Address Wildland Fire Challenges
Written by:James Furman, USDA Forest Service, and Holly Campbell, Southern Regional Extension Forestry
Extreme wildfire behavior has escalated over the past two decades, accounting for more than $15 million annually in Air Force claims and posing a threat to Air Force personnel and assets, as well as to neighboring communities and the landscape itself.
With the potential for wildfire ignitions resulting from Department of Defense training and test missions, effective wildland fire management and response is critical and high on the Air Force's priority list. While Air Force installations have been participating in prescribed burn programs and other fire management activities for decades, installations have differed historically in the levels of training, equipment and capabilities that were available locally, making it apparent that a centralized approach was necessary in ensuring that the Air Force had the infrastructure in place to address fire management and suppression requirements.
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 New Fire Science You Can Use
Depending on where you live in the South, you might be interested in following the work of either or both the Southern Fire Exchange (SFE) and the Consortium of Fire Managers & Scientists (CAFMS).
Written by David Godwin, Southern Fire Exchange
I
FTDSS Training Videos Online
Did you miss the IFTDSS workshop at the 2017 AFE Fire Ecology and Management Congress? Learn how to use this completely revamped browser based planning and analysis tool through their
new online training videos.
Archive of Mobile Apps for Fire
Looking for some new mobile apps as you prepare for the upcoming prescribed fire season? The Southern Fire Exchange has
categorized lists of apps that may help you be more effective this year. Are we missing your favorite app?
Email us and let us know!
Wildfire Probability Map
Watch how US wildfire probability changes across the country in
this animated map from NOAA.
TELE-Advanced Training
Old Growth Forests in Florida
A
new publication in the Natural Areas Journal looks at the characteristics of old-growth pine species in Florida State Parks. Look for a Southern Fire Exchange science brief reviewing this publication in an upcoming issue of the Fire Lines newsletter.
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Prescribed Fire Council Updates
North Florida Prescribed Fire Council
The North Florida PFC will hold their bi-annual meeting on March 27, 2018 in Chipley, FL. Details TBA.
Annual Meetings
Did you miss your Prescribed Fire Council meeting this fall? Did you see a presentation and want a copy of the slides? The Southern Fire Exchange has archived presentations from some of the meetings from last year.
Check out the archive here.
Check
on your state's PFC website to find an event near you.
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New Tools and Applications
By: Jeannie Patton, Communications Lead, The Nature Conservancy -
LANDFIRE Interviews Kori Blankenship, The Nature Conservancy's LANDFIRE tea member since 2005. Kori provides support for the development and improvement of BpS models, the historic (pre-European settlement) ecosystems "Biophysical Settings."
Read the full interview here.
LANDFIRE Remap: Integrating lidar. LF Remap, an innovative vegetation and fuels mapping effort to produce current base maps of the LF product suite, has focused efforts towards advancing LF mapping methodologies spanning several topical areas. These areas include LF Reference Database (LFRDB), Satellite Image Compositing, Lifeform modeling, Existing Vegetation Type (EVT) modeling, and Vegetation Structure modeling.
For more information, please review the poster:
LANDFIRE Remap: Integrating lidar for Improving Vegetation Structure Mapping
Are you receiving LANDFIRE Bulletins and Postcards directly? We post monthly: news, application stories, interviews. Click here to learn more and to subscribe.
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LiDAR-based analysis may improve wildland firefighter escape route mapping
In a paper recently published in the International Journal of Wildland Fire researchers from USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station and University of Utah, describe their efforts to use LiDAR to identify escape route strategies in fire prone areas of the western US. Better methods for establishing escape routes could improve wildland fire fighter safety throughout the US and beyond.
Learn more at
this Link.
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Prescribed Burn Association Updates
Video Helps PBAs Plan Landowner Education Events
One of the most successful approaches to encouraging more prescribed fires on private lands is the hosting of a live fire demonstration workshop. A video is available to PBAs and other wanting to host one of these events. Whether the PBA has never held such an event or would like to learn how other groups pull off such an event, this video will be useful. The Prescribed Burn Alliance of Texas shows how to use a small bale of hay to demonstrate how prescribed fires are conducted. They've successfully used this technique with all ages. This short how-to video can be seen here.
Many other useful links and videos designed to support PBAs can be found at the
Southeast Prescribed Fire Update..
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FIRE ADAPTED COMMUNITIES
LEARNING NETWORK
Why is a learning network a good way to address wildfire issues?
From their FAQ page, the FAC Learning Network says, "Unlike coalitions or alliances, generative networks tackle problems that require a good deal of time and adaptive management to address. The members develop powerful, enduring relationships, and members (vs. staff) do most of the group's work. The long-term, cooperative, and nimble nature of this generative network makes it ideal for addressing the dynamic problem of community resiliency to wildfire."
If you would like to join the FAC Learning Network, please visit the
membership website.
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Winter Issue Contains Prescribed Fire Stories and Inspriration
The winter 2018 issue of the Tall Timbers eJournal is available online. The issue contains many articles with prescribed fire content and references including emerging technology for fire science, planned burning in Western Australia, habitat for wildlife and game birds, and more.
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The "Firehawk" Raptors of Northern Australia
Raptors may use fire to flush out prey
As reported in the
Journal of Ethnobiology (December 2017) and on the Cosmos Magazine website (
cosmosmagazine.com), three species of raptors in northern Australia have been observed and studied for their fire facilitation behaviors. The birds have evidently learned to transport burning material from one area of fire to another which then starts a new burning spot.
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Newsworthy and Burning Issues
Fire on the Land, A Retrospective Anthology of Selected Papers from the Archives of the Society of American Foresters
- Edited by Stephen Fillmore
This new SAF book, featuring a preface by Dr. Stephen Pyne, provides a comprehensive examination of how fire has shaped America's forested landscape and the people who care for it. Each section of this anthology of peer-reviewed articles includes a science synthesis introduction bridging the history of these pivotal papers and the current practices and work that lies ahead regarding fire science in forestry. You can view the full table of contents for free and order yours now at http://bit.ly/2hPo5Mu.
Some South Carolina Forest Managers Seeking to Move to Smaller Controlled Burns - The Post and Courier, Dec. 30, 2017
Smoke will plume above the South Carolina's timberlands again this winter, looming over nearby neighborhoods as forest owners strike a match to clear away pinestraw, fallen limbs and other debris that stunts growth and can fuel destructive wildfires. The tradition is a century old, going back to the days when remote forests could be burned thousands of acres at a time. More than 12 million acres in South Carolina are forest and most have to be burned at some point or eventually they will erupt in wildfire.
READ MORE
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Funding News & Opportunities
NFWF Longleaf Stewardship Fund
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals to expand and enhance longleaf pine ecosystem restoration and management across longleaf pine's historical range, as well as the restoration and enhancement of bottomland hardwood forests within priority focal areas. Interested applicants may contact Jon Scott at [email protected]
with any questions and to discuss project ideas.
Proposals must be submitted by 11:59pm (Eastern Time) on Thursday, February 8, 2018 via NFWF's online application system in order to be considered.
www.wildfirePrepDay.org Application period January 8 - March 2, 2018 for one of 150 project funding awards at $500 each.
If you are thinking about what activities you and your family, friends, and neighbors would like to do to improve your wildfire preparedness capabilities, consider participating in next year's Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 5, 2018.
FY 2019 ESTCP Solicitation Topic D3 Resource Conservation and Resiliency. This solicitation was released January 9, 2018; pre-proposals are due March 8, 2018.
To see the PDF document describing the wildland fire management portion of the solicitation
CLICK HERE
Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) are competitive grants that drive public and private sector innovation in resource conservation. Authorized by the 2002 Farm Bill, CIG uses Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) funds to award competitive grants to non-Federal governmental or nongovernmental organizations, American Indian Tribes, or individuals. Producers involved in CIG funded projects must be EQIP eligible. This year there is an emphasis on improving ecosystem function and resilience through prescribed burning programs. The application deadline is February 26, 2018 at 5pm.
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Webinars and Videos
Videos
Prescribed Fire 101
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o from North Carolina's Sandhills Prescribed Burn Association as part of a forest landowner education program.
Check out this series of
prescribed burning equipment videos
produced by Oklahoma State University. These videos cover equipment from radios, leaf blowers, sprayers, clothing, hand tools, burn trailers and weather instruments, and are suitable for any part of the country or skill level of burner.
The Association of Fire Ecology offers World of Wildland Fire
videos. These excellent videos cover topics like wildfire ecology, latest research, fire behavior and fuels, moisture, and combustion.
Archived Webinars
RX Fire-101 webinar - 1.5 hour technical video with Alan Long of the Southern Fire Exchange in partnership with the NWCG Smoke Committee and others. This recorded webinar is a great overview of prescribed burning for anyone new to the art, science, and practice of intentional burning.
More fire-related webinars are archived on the Southern Fire Exchange website at:
Upcoming Webinars
A Decade of Interagency Fire Effects Monitoring -
February 7, 2018.
11:00 Pacific / noon Mountain / 1:00 Central / 2:00 Eastern (1.5 hours) This Heart of the Appalachians FLN Monitoring Working Group webinar will highlight a decade of fire effects monitoring in the Central Appalachians, with methods and results from forest structure and composition monitoring, photo monitoring, and a canopy gap analysis. Use this link to
Join webinar
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Upcoming Events, Training, and Networking
Prescribed Burn Certification Courses
May 8-10, 2018 - Louisiana Prescribed Fire Training, Woodworth Outdoor Education Center.
NC Forest Service Prescribed Burner Training Dates for Spring 2018
February 15th and 16th, 2018: Scotland County Cooperative Extension Services in Laurinburg
You can register for the January class at this link.
Southern Fire Exchange has a useful Education and Training web page at:
Fire Fests
January 27, 2018 - Tall timbers Red Hills, Please join us for this free celebration of prescribed fire-a safe way to apply a natural process, ensure ecosystem health, and reduce wildfire risk. Thanks to the great partners who make Fire Festival possible and work hard to protect and further the use of prescribed fire. http://talltimbers.org/news/news.php?news_id=702
April 21, 2018 - Party for the Pine: Fire for the Forest , Southern Pines, NC.Get full details and learn how to get involved at: http://www.partyforthepine.org/
October/November 2018 - Dr. Joe Roise, NC State University Professor for Forestry is working with the NC Prescribed Fire Council in the planning of a fire festival in the North Carolina in the fall of 2018. Please stay tuned for more details.
Jan.14-Feb. 9, 2018.
Wildlife Firefighter Apprenticeship Program
. The Wildland Firefighter Apprentice Program is an accredited, educational program designed to enhance and develop future Fire and Aviation Managers. The intent of the Program is to take a career entry firefighter and provide education, training and paid work experience over a 12 to 48 month period, depending on experience. Upon successful completion of all the requirements of the Apprenticeship Program, the apprentice will reach journey-level status as a wildland firefighter.
October 29 - November 9, 2018
- Southern Blue Ridge TREX, the first Prescribed Fire Training Exchange in the Appalachians including aerial ignition! Sponsored by USDA Forest Service, The Nature Conservancy and Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers & Scientists. #SBRTrex
Firefighter II Certification.
This intermediate firefighter training program (equivalent to NWCG S-131, S-133, and S-231 courses, as well as the G-131 course) is designed to prepare the Firefighter 2 (FFT2) to move to the Firefighter 1 (FFT1) position. This course trains these firefighters to coordinate with other resources and be good leaders - make sound tactical decisions while keeping safety their first priority.
Conferences and Workshops
hundreds of the most influential people in wildland firefighting, forestry, land use and community planning all in one place. The educational sessions, hands-on exercises, and exhibit floor all offer numerous opportunities to share ideas and connect with other industry colleagues.
March 26-29, 2018 - National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop, Peppermill Resort, Reno, NV. "Making a Difference - Building Capacity, Improving Preparedness, and Learning form Experience." This conference is hosted by the International Association of Wildland Fire, in partnership with Wildland Fire Leadership Council and the Western, Southeastern and Northeastern Regional Strategic Committees.
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Click Me! |
May 21-24, 2018 - The Fire Continuum Conference, University of Montana, Missoula, MT.
Visit the conference website at Keynote speaker, Tony Tooke, USDA Forest Service Chief.
Click the image to the right for full details.
Save the Date
Oct. 24-26, 2018 - The Longleaf Alliance, Alexandria, LA. The 22nd biennial Longleaf Alliance regional conference is
scheduled to take place at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Alexandria, LA., October 24 through 26, 2018. Visit longleafalliance.org for more details.
Visit the Southern Fire Exchange for listings of conferences, webinars, workshops and field tours at:
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Job Postings
Extension Assistant - Wildland Fire Outreach & Education: 12-month Extension Assistant position assisting in the outreach and extension components necessary to implement the Comprehensive Strategy for Prescribed Fire in the Southeast United States. A Bachelor of Science is required (Master's is preferred) in Forestry, Fire Ecology, Natural Resources, or related field upon hiring. Application deadline: January 30, 2018, or until the position is filled. Details at https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/95852
Fire Module Members: Wildland Restoration International is recruiting for three seasonal FFT2s for its Virginia Coastal Plains Module. The season runs February 19-May 11. Details are on the
WRI website
Research Associate: The Ecological Restoration Institute at Northern Arizona University is seeking a research associate to assist the new director of forest operations and biomass utilization, Dr. Han-Sup Han. Details are on the NAU jobs page (
job ID 603563).
Prescribed Fire Corps Project Leader
with Student Conservation Association (SCA) in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, seeks qualified applicants to lead, educate, and inspire young adults for the Prescribed Fire Corps programs in the southeast U.S., January - May 2018. See the job description for full detail and how to apply.
Wildland Restoration International (WRI) Job Announcements:
See the job descriptions for positions in Florida and Southeastern US. WRI also has a subscription option that will notify you by email of job announcements and training opportunities.
The Nature Conservancy
has numerous fire-related positions open. For details, visit the
careers page
and search "prescribed fire."
Two US Forest Service openings have been announced. Primarily open for Federal Employees, but also Veterans, Persons with Disabilities, and Peace Corps and AmeriCorps Vista.
Social Scientist/Natural Resource Specialist/Physical Scientist, GS-101/401/1301-13 (Ass. Dir Air Quality)
Scheduled to close Jan. 30, 2018. The job announcement is 18-SVQ1-01-396316G-CM.
Biological Scientist/Physical Scientist, GS-401/1301-11/12 (Smoke Mgmt Specialist)
Scheduled to close Feb. 06, 2018. The job announcement number is 18-SVQ1-01-396369G-CM.
Online Job Boards:
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Driptorch Digest
This newsletter is hosted by the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning & Sustainability (SERPPAS) Prescribed Fire Work Group.
Share your prescribed fire
information, stories, and events!
Jennifer Fawcett
SERPPAS Prescribed Fire Work Group Coordinator
NC State University, Extension Forestry
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EXTENSION FORESTRY
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Campus Box 8008
Raleigh, NC 27695-8008
919-515-8288
Kelley Duffield McCarter - Production Assistant
NC State University, College of Natural Resources
Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources
Campus Box 8008
Raleigh, NC 27695-8008
919-515-9563
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