DRIPTORCH DIGEST
A Newsletter for the Southern Prescribed Fire Community
No. 39
December 2019
Happy Holidays!

Thank you, Southern prescribed fire community, for sharing your fire-related work with us in 2019 and continuing to dedicate your time to good land stewardship. We hope your holidays are full of joy, and look forward to another year of sharing news and information with you. We wish you all a safe, healthy and happy 2020, with lots of opportunities for burning!

Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability

2020 Save the Dates
SERPPAS' Spring 2020 Steering Committee Meeting will be held March 4-5 in Atlanta, GA, while the 2020 Principals Meeting will be held May 11-13 in Beaufort, NC. Logistics, when available, can be found on the SERPPAS website.
New Landowner Resources Tool

The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership has released an Interactive Landowner Resources Tool. The product allows landowners and others to find voluntary state and federal assistance programs, including those that cover or support prescribed burning. Users can filter by different categories, see important program information, and export filtered results to a PDF.
Indigenous Fire Knowledge

Wired and Mother Jones recently covered how Native communities in places like California long used fire to manage the land, and how that understanding should help inform today's management. Many Native communities in the Southeast also have long histories of fire use.
2019 Prescribed Fire Council Membership Summary

The Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils has released the results of a survey of Prescribed Fire Councils which asked about membership, organizational structure, annual meetings, and immediate and future needs. The survey includes data from 34 states and 39 PFCs.
Image: US States with PFCs
Credit: Mark Melvin, 2019 Prescribed Fire Council Membership Summary
Study Examines Factors Affecting Prescribed Burning Insurance

A study recently published in Rangeland Ecology & Management examined factors that impact burners' decision to acquire prescribed burning insurance. Results found, in part, that practitioners are more likely to obtain prescribed burning insurance if they are landowners themselves or have a written prescribed burn plan. Age and level of importance burners place on compliance with environmental laws also had a significant positive effect on the likelihood of obtaining insurance coverage.
The Women Before Me

A newly released article and video cover the history of the Zigzag Hotshots, highlighting the first women to join the crew and the way they paved the way for future female wildland firefighters. The project was supported in part by The Smokey Generation and American Wildfire Experience, both of whom are dedicated to supporting wildland fire storytelling.

Image: Kimberly Brandel in 1976, the first known woman on a hotshot crew in USFS Region 6
Credit: Amanda Monthei, The Women Before Me
Alliance to Address Forest Health Threats

The Society of American Foresters The Forestry Source recently published a series of essays by forest health professionals about the pressing need to fund and address existing, emerging, and future forest health threats.
Extension Connection
Cooperative Extension at AFE
In November, representatives of the National Extension Wildland Fire Initiative (NEWFI) attended the Association for Fire Ecology Fire Congress in Tucson, AZ. NEWFI members participated in a sponsored booth, special session, fire circle for open discussion, and a quarterly meeting. You can learn more about NEWFI and how to join here.
Shortleaf Pine Initiative

New Fact Sheets: Growth and Yield, Diversity of Forest Types
The Shortleaf Pine Initiative has released two new fact sheets. The first covers Shortleaf Pine Growth and Yield and the second addresses Diversity of Shortleaf Pine Forest Types.
Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network

New Blog Posts: Building Capacity and Fire Reading
The Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network publishes a variety of content related to fire adaptation. The following recent posts may be of interest to the prescribed fire community:


The Longleaf Alliance

Burner Bob Visits Virginia
Over 120 people gathered on October 25 t o dedicate The Nature Conservancy’s Owen Preserve in Yale, Virginia (Sussex County). The occasion celebrated the protection and management of one of the highest priority longleaf restoration sites identified by the Longleaf Cooperators of the Virginia Longleaf Implementation Team, and included a visit from the Longleaf Alliance's Burner Bob.
Image: Burner Bob and "Thomas Jefferson"
Credit: Partners for Conservation
Joint Fire Science Program

Defining "Resilient Landscapes" From Multiple Stakeholder Perspectives in a WUI Area
A recent JFSP-funded project examining conflict over a fuels treatment project called Forsythe II found, in part, that "land management in WUI areas might benefit from public comment processes that lend legitimacy to "social values" concerns, and that addressing such concerns early in the public outreach phases of a treatment can help avoid intractability later."

Models of Fire-Induced Tree Mortality Across the US
The final report is now available for a JFSP-funded project examining current understanding of the mechanisms of fire-induced tree mortality. The report, in parts, recommends standard terminology and described model applications and limitations.

The Wildfire Economy
A recent JFSP-funded project examined the local economic impacts of large wildland fires in the western US. A final report, article, and video covering the findings are now available.
Image: Causes of Tree Mortality from Fire
Credit: JFSP Final Report
Oak Woodlands& Forests Fire Consortium

Newsletter Features: Shortleaf Conference, Ticks and Fire in the Southeast, and More
The latest newsletter from the Oak Woodlands & Forests Fire Consortium has been released. The newsletter includes, in part, a summary of the October Shortleaf Pine Conference and a research brief about the relationship between tick population dynamics and long-term prescribed burning in Southwestern Georgia and Northwestern Florida.
Prescribed Fire News Roundup
Is Florida the Answer to California's Fire Problem?
Sierra Magazine covers the widespread use of prescribed fire in Florida and how that could inform California's land management.

Prescribed Burning on the Apalachicola National Forest
WCTV addresses local criticism of the Apalachicola National Forest's burn program, while WFSU Public Media examines how prescribed burning maintains the National Forest.

How Prescribed Burns are Beneficial to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park
University of Tennessee Daily Beacon covers the use of prescribed fire in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Prescribed Fire Helps Prevent Wildfires, Conserves Wildlife in Florida
The Palm Beach Post notes the many benefits of widespread prescribed fire in Florida.
Funding Opportunities
Close-up of $100 bills
National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Funding Opportunity Announcements
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has announced the release of the   2020 request for proposals  under the Longleaf Stewardship Fund. This request for proposals (RFP) expects to award up to $5.5 million in federal and private sector funding in support of projects that restore, enhance and maintain longleaf pine on private and public lands to improve wildlife habitat and water quality. Full proposals are due Thursday, February 6, 2020 by 11:59 PM Eastern Time .

Lake States Fire Science Consortium Intern Program
The Lake States Fire Science Consortium is accepting proposals for several $4,000 research internship awards. The funds will support undergraduate internship experiences and proposals are due by 5:00 PM ET December 9, 2019.

Enviva Forest Conservation Fund
The U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities (Endowment) is seeking applications for the 2020 Enviva Forest Conservation Fund. Projects may receive up to $500,000, and applications are due January 24, 2020 at 5:00 PM ET.

REPI Challenge Pre-Proposals
The 2020 REPI Challenge Pre-Proposal Form is now available, with the Challenge open to all eligible partners at DoD installations. Pre-proposals are due on Friday, January 24 by 8:00 PM ET. Full information can be found on the program website.

Travel, Research, and Educational Experience (TREE) Grants
The Association for Fire Ecology (AFE) will distribute Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) TREE grants. These are designed to help graduate students travel to present at conferences and workshops related to fire science and management. Applications are due 60 days before the start of the event the applicant would like to attend. Additional information and application link are available on the  AFE website . 
Webinars, Video, and Other Media
Recent Archived Webinars


More recorded webinars on a variety of fire topics can be found on the Southern Fire Exchange webinar page, the Oak Woodlands and Forests Fire Consortium webinar page, and the Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers and Scientists webinars and presentations page .
Videos


Past videos and other resources can be found here.
Podcasts & Radio

Podcast Series

  • Good Fire Podcast - Covers the indigenous use of "good fire" is used around the globe.
  • Learn, Baby, Burn - Created by the Michigan Prescribed Fire Council, this podcast will cover a variety of prescribed fire topics.
  • The Fire Learning Trail - Introduces listeners to the role of fire in the Southern Appalachians, wildland firefighting, and local history
  • On The Line - Covers topics of interest to wildland firefighters, including mental health, the pack test, and health considerations.
  • Forest Voices - Covers forest stewardship and management topics, including prescribed fire.

Past single podcasts and other resources can be found here.
Upcoming Events, Training, and Networking
Prescribed Fire Council Meetings

  • North Florida - March 24, 2020, Marianna, FL. More details will be available soon, and registration will open approximately one month before the meeting.

  • Central Florida - October 2, 2020, Kissimmee, FL. More details will be available soon, and registration will open approximately one month before the meeting.
Prescribed Burner Certification Courses



  • Georgia - Courses are offered by the Georgia Forestry Commission, with the following courses remaining for 2019:
  • December 3-4, Jasper, GA


  • Louisiana - Courses are offered through LSU Cooperative Extension Service. None are currently scheduled.
Conferences, Workshops, Festivals and Other Events















  • March 10-11, 2020 - Forest Economic Contributions Summit, New Orleans, LA




  • May 19-21, 2020 - Southern Blue Ridge FLN, Dillard, GA

  • Ongoing - Fire in the Field, 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. 
Job Postings
All jobs are open as of the Driptorch Digest send date, however application reviews may have begun.

Prescribed Burn Crew Member - Bayfields Forest Management is hiring call-when-needed burn crew members and a forest management intern to work on private lands in southeast North Carolina. Applications are due by December 9.

LANDFIRE Communications Leads - The Nature Conservancy is seeking to hire manager to lead communications for the LANDFIRE program. Applications are due by December 4.

Prescribed Fire Crew Manager and Technicians - North Carolina State Parks is accepting applications for a burn crew manager and technicians. Those interested should submit an application, cover letter, resume and references to andrew.slack@ncparks.gov.

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.

Online Job Boards 
Partner Newsletters
Find more fire-related information from our friends & partners!

Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers & Scientists Newsletter ( current edition )
Department of Defense Natural Selections Newsletter  ( current edition )
Fire Learning Network  Networker  ( current edition )
Forest Stewards Guild After Wildfire: News & Networking ( current edition  and  subscription link )
Gulf Coastal Plains & Ozarks LCC Newsletter ( current edition )
Joint Fire Science Program  Fire Science Digest  ( current and archived editions )
LANDFIRE Bulletin & Post Card  ( current edition and subscription form   )
Partners for Conservation News ( current news and subscription form )
REPI Program Newsletter ( current edition and subscription form )
SERPPAS Circular ( current edition )
South Atlantic LCC Newsletter ( current edition )
Southeast Region Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy  ( current edition   )
Southern Fire Exchange  Firelines  Newsletter  ( current edition and subscription link )
Tall Timbers  eNews  and  eJournal
Wildland Fire Lessons Learned Center Two More Chains  ( current edition )
Contact us to share your prescribed fire information, stories, or events!
‌
Jennifer Fawcett
NC State Extension Forestry
Extension Associate
SERPPAS Prescribed Fire Working Group Coordinator
919-515-8288

Laurel Kays
NC State Extension Forestry
Extension Assistant
919-513-2573

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