The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions are continuing to impact prescribed burning programs across the South. As of May 1, 2020 no Southern states currently have COVID-19-related burn bans. Agencies, organizations, and private landowners continue to navigate balancing the need for prescribed fire while keeping burners and surrounding communities safe.

The following information and resources related to COVID-19 may be useful to the Southern prescribed fire community.

The summary for the Spring 2020 SERPPAS Steering Committee is now available on the SERPPAS website. A SERPPAS login is required to view the material.

The 2020 SERPPAS Principals Meeting 15-Year Celebration has been rescheduled for September 15-16, 2020 due to COVID-19. SERPPAS continues to closely monitor the situation, and will send out additional information throughout the summer. Virtual options will be considered in the event that in-person meetings are not possible this year.

Burners in any state are encouraged to log prescribed burns on the Oklahoma Prescribed Burn Association website. The simple Google Form does not ask for any personal information, and is used to track prescribed burn activity and safety records around the country.

New 360-degree videos created by North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Research Station Forest Manager David Schnake allow viewers to explore forest management sites and learn about the different practices used to manage them. The Picture Creek Diabase Barren series includes multiple videos showing the site before, during, and after a prescribed burn. Those videos that specifically discuss the use and evaluation of prescribed fire are also hosted on the eFIRE site. All videos were developed following a collaboration with NC State University’s Colin Kennan and Victoria Gerson.

The Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia Forestry Foundation, Chattahoochee Nature Center, and Project Learning Tree Georgia have compiled a variety of environmental education resources about forest management, wildland fire, and longleaf pine. Resources include a PBS Wildfire Simulator, Longleaf Alliance Longleaf Lesson Plans, and a virtual tour of a Georgia forest.

The USDA Forest Service has released a new General Technical Report on Fire in the Southern Appalachians. The report examines time trends of fire in the Southern Appalachian region, including mitigation activities and forecasting acres burned. Chapters address topics including the 2016 wildfires, use of prescribed fire in the region, and what the future may look like given increases in global temperatures, fuels, and wildland fire management.

Each year, Wildland-Urban Interface Awareness Month is celebrated in April. This April, the USDA Forest Service released Wildfire Risk to Communities, a free, easy-to-use website with interactive maps, charts, and resources to help communities understand, explore, and reduce wildfire risk. The website also includes a fact sheet to help users navigate the site.

A new storymap from the United States Department of Agriculture features the Bembry family from Pulaski County, GA. The Bembry's farm ventures include management for longleaf pine timber and the use of prescribed fire.

A 33-page Facilitated Learning Analysis has been released for a 2019 incident in which helicopter passenger and firefighter Daniel Laird was killed on a prescribed fire in Texas. Wildfire Today has also published a blog post including excerpts of the report.

The updated Photo Guide for Estimating Fuel Loading in the Southern Appalachian Mountains has been released by the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station. The guide includes 74 photos depicting fuel loads in the region, as well as instructions on how to select a reference photo and use fuel loading information for prescribed fire planning.

All SFE webinars, including the recent Statutory, Regulatory and Legal Constraints on Prescribed Fire in the USA webinar held on March 12, are recorded. Recordings are available to watch anytime on the SFE YouTube channel.

Extension Fire and Rangeland Fire Regional Specialists - Oregon State University’s Forestry & Natural Resources Extension's newly created Fire Program is hiring six regional specialists. Five Extension Fire Regional Specialists will be located throughout the state, and one Extension Rangeland Fire Regional Specialist will be located in Burns, OR. Applications for all positions are due by May 15.

Southeast Region Manager - The Forest Stewards Guild is hiring a a manager for their Southeastern program. Applications are being accepted through May 6.

Assistant Professor of Forest Health and Fire Protection - Alabama A&M University is hiring for a nine-month academic appointment with additional three-month summer employment available and expected. Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis.

Veterans Fire Corps - The Student Conservation Association is accepting applications from post-9/11-era US military veterans for its Fire Corps internships. Additional information and the application portal can be found on the program website.

Fire Ecology Internships - The Fire Ecology Program at Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy in Tallahassee, FL seeks to provide field and laboratory experience for college students and recent graduates in the areas of plant ecology, ecosystem ecology, and fire ecology and science. Most internships last 12-16 weeks and are largely fieldwork based. Summer interns work from May-August and Fall interns work from October-December.  Get full details and application instructions here.