The July Driptorch Digest is Now Available!

No. 58

July 2021

DRIPTORCH DIGEST

A Newsletter for the Southern Prescribed Fire Community

Southern Blue Ridge TREX Accepting Applications

The Southern Blue Ridge Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (SBR TREX) is now accepting applications through July 17. SBR TREX will take place Oct 24 - Nov 5, 2021, and will be based near Table Rock State Park in Pickens, SC. The objective of this two-week program is to facilitate peer-to-peer experiential learning for prescribed fire professionals and others interested in advancing their understanding of innovative tools to restore fire-adapted ecosystems. This video shows highlights from the 2018 SBR TREX.

News & Updates

Realistic PPE for Landowners Blog Series

The second and third installments of the Practical PPE Options for Landowners blog series are now available on the Southeast Prescribed Fire Update:

Part Two: Head coverings, face coverings, and eye protection

Part Three: Boots and shoes, gloves, jewelry, undergarments', and overall considerations

Learning About Burning: An Introduction to Prescribed Fire for NC Landowners

Learning About Burning in the North Carolina Mountains

A new Forest Stewards Guild video and blog post on the Southeast Prescribed Fire Update provide an introduction to prescribed fire for landowners in the mountains of North Carolina.

New Publications: Wild Turkey Management, Fire Weather Forecasts, Fire in Virginia, and Wildfire Building Safety

Several new publications have been released relevant to the Southeastern prescribed fire community:

Wild Turkey Ecology and Management for Mississippi and the Southeastern US (Mississippi State University Extension)
Fire in Virginia (Virginia Forests)
NWCG Guide to Fire Weather Forecasts, PMS 425 (National Wildfire Coordinating Group)
Planning Framework for Protecting Commercial Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire Events (Environmental Protection Agency, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers)

National Fire Scar Survey

The newly released National Fire Scar Survey allows users to submit information and location of fire scars. Submitting fire scar data can help researchers identify potential new fire scar collection sites to help understand historical fire patterns.

USFS Products

The United States Forest Service has released or updated several products and publications related to prescribed fire:

Prescribed Fire Effects on Soil Fertility: New research examined how dormant-season prescribed fire impacts soil fertility in the months following a burn
Southern Research Station Research Plots: A new quarterly publication intended to share SRS findings with land managers and the public
Tree Atlas: Recently overhauled and updated, this tool provides insight on how future climate scenarios may impact eastern forests

Fort Stewart Recognition

Fort Stewart-Hunter Army Airfield in Georgia was recently recognized for its prescribed fire program as well as progress towards red-cockaded woodpecker recovery. The related programs support both ecosystem restoration and military training.

Firefighter Workforce

Several news stories have recently covered issues related to the national wildland firefighter workforce:

How federal agencies are failing their wildland firefighters (Grist)
These are the hotshot firefighters leading attacks against California wildfires. And they're quitting (CNN)
'Fire season' becomes year-round, forcing National Interagency Fire Center to transition seasonal employees to full-time (KTVB)
What do we owe wildland firefighters? (Salt Lake Tribune)
Biden promises to end 'ridiculously low salary' for federal firefighters (AOL)
Cal Fire offsets loss of inmate help (NBC San Diego)
Forest Service Deputy Chief: Increase fuels work and firefighter pay (Wildfire Today)

Southern Fire Science - UAVs for Measuring Prescribed Fire Behavior

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for Measuring Fire Behavior

A new video from the Southern Fire Exchange features Jim Riddering, Ph.D. discussing the use of UAVs for measuring fire behavior.

Longleaf for All Initiative

America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative has launched a new working group, Longleaf for All. The group is intended to be part of an ongoing commitment to be an advocate and partner for minority and unserved landowners, as well as minority professionals in the fields of forestry and longleaf restoration.

Aerial Footage of Florida Prescribed Fire

A new video from Southwest Florida Water Management District shows a prescribed fire at the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve.

Emerging Field Studies Fire-Transported Microbes

An emerging branch of research is examining "pyroaerobiology," or the study of how bacteria and fungi may be carried by wildland fire smoke. A recent National Science Foundation Grant will allow Dr. Leda Koziar of the University of Idaho to study the topic in greater depth.

Texas Longleaf Restoration Survey

The Texas Longleaf Implementation Team and Texan by Nature are conducting a survey to identify potential landowner partners in East Texas.

Georgia Prescribed Fire Council North GA Meeting 2021

North Georgia Prescribed Fire Council Meeting Recordings

Recordings of the recent North Georgia Prescribed Fire Council meeting are now available. The meeting can be viewed in its entirety or by individual presentation.

Association for Fire Ecology

The Association for Fire Ecology is accepting nominations for its awards through August 30. AFE is also accepting applications for its professional certification program through September 1.

Prescribed Fire News Roundup

Changes to Georgia burn permits announced (Blackshear Times)

Smooth coneflower makes a comeback (Virginia Mercury)

Wildfire a danger year-round in Florida: Humans and lightning are big causes (Tallahassee Democrat)

Financial Services Department on fire as two analysts cross-train as ‘prescribed burners’ (Palm Coast Observer)

How state-to-landowner assistance helps reduce wildfire risks (National Association of State Foresters)

Randy Moore to become US Forest Service's first African American chief (CNN)

Fire adapted means being smoke ready (FAC Learning Network)

What did Alabama’s landscapes look like in 1819? Hint: think Kansas with prairies and bamboo. (Bham Now)

Inside pyrosketchology (Sierra )

Warming climate amplifies The risks of wildfire season (NPR)

Top new aerial firefighting tech that’s catching fire (Skies Magazine)

Funding Opportunities

Longleaf Planting Fund

The Longleaf Alliance works with multiple partners to provide longleaf pine seedling funds to landowners. If interested in requesting financial assistance for an longleaf project for the 2021-2022 planting season, please submit your request by July 31st.

Upcoming Joint Fire Science Program Funding Opportunities

The interagency Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) intends to request proposals through one or more formal Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOA) beginning approximately July 2021 and remaining open approximately 60 days. Investigators interested in FOA topics should begin considering responsive ideas with potential partners and collaborators.

Association for Fire Ecology Funding Opportunities

The Association for Fire Ecology (AFE) has multiple funding opportunities available to support fire science students. The deadlines for these programs vary.

Job Postings

All jobs are open as of the Driptorch Digest send date, however application reviews may have begun.

Biologist/Forester - National Wild Turkey Federation, Apply by July 2

Fire Program Assistant - Florida Park Service, Apply by July 9

Land Management Specialist - Ordway-Swisher Biological Station, University of Florida

Owen Fellowship - The Longleaf Alliance, Applications accepted September 1- December 31

Wildland Fire Practitioner Training Specialist - The Ember Alliance, Applications accepted on a rolling basis until filled

Call-When-Needed Wildland Fire Training Instructor - The Ember Alliance, Applications accepted on a rolling basis until filled

Job Boards

The Center for Environmental Management of Military Lands
Chloeta Careers
The Corps Network
The Longleaf Alliance
The Nature Conservancy (search "prescribed fire")
The Southern Fire Exchange
USAJOBS
WildfireX

Upcoming Events & Webinars

Prescribed Fire Council Meetings

August 18-19, North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council Meeting, Morganton, NC
September 30, Georgia Prescribed Fire Council Annual Meeting, Virtual

Prescribed Burner Certification Courses

Alabama - Provided by Alabama Forestry Commission Certified Burn Manager Program. Five courses are currently scheduled for 2021.
Certification Courses
July 13-16 - Auburn University
August 17-20 - Tuscaloosa
Re-Certification Courses
July 12 - Auburn University
August 16 - Tuscaloosa
Florida - Provided by Florida Forest Service Certified Burn Manager Training. No courses are currently scheduled.
Georgia - Provided by Georgia Forestry Commission. One course is currently scheduled for September 21-22.
Kentucky - Courses are offered periodically. No courses are currently scheduled.
Louisiana - Provided by LSU Cooperative Extension Service. No courses are currently scheduled.
Mississippi - Provided by Mississippi Forestry Commission. No courses are currently scheduled.
North Carolina - Provided by North Carolina Forest Service. Certified Burner Training is offered several times per year. No courses are currently scheduled.
South Carolina - Provided by South Carolina Forestry Commission. No courses are currently scheduled.
Texas - Provided by Texas Department of Agriculture. No courses are currently scheduled but the online Prescribed Burn School is available.
Virginia - Provided by Virginia Department of Forestry and Virginia Prescribed Fire Council, with the course materials available online. No courses are currently scheduled.

Webinars (All Times Eastern)

On-Demand - Fire Suppression and Mesophication of Upland Oak Landscapes
On-Demand - Wildland Firefighters Mental Health and Well-being
On-Demand - Fire Breaks: Fire Suppression and the Return of Indigenous Flames
On-Demand - Wildfires and Air Quality (Part 1)
On-Demand - Fire Departments and Wildland Fire
July 8, 11:00 AM - The Link Between Woody Biochar, Forest Industry, Agriculture, and Benefits for Different Users
July 15, 10:00 AM - Using Fire Regimes as Ecosystem Indicators: SEFireMap, Southeast Conservation Blueprint, and Other Applications
July 20, 12:00 PM - Protecting Rare and At-Risk Species: Tools to Collect Meaningful Data with Limited Resources
August 12, 1:00 PM - Potential Impacts of Prescribed Fire Smoke on Air Quality, Public Health, and Socially Vulnerable Populations in the Southeastern U.S.

Conferences, Workshops, Festivals, and Other Events

July 6-30 - Virtual Herbicides and Longleaf 201 Academy, Virtual
July 12-16 - RX-310 Introduction to Fire Effects, State College, PA
August 19-20 - Forest Stewards Guild 25th Anniversary Celebration, Asheville, NC
September 8-9 - International Fire Prevention Workshop, Virtual
September 21-23 - Great Plains Fire Summit, North Platte, NE
September 26-30 - Extension & Knowledge Exchange Conference, Asheville, NC
October 4-8 - National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop, Asheville, NC
October 5-7 - Land Trust Rally, Virtual
October 19 - Exploring the Impact of Prescribed & Natural Fire on Insects and Other Invertebrates, Virtual
October 25-November 5 - Southern Blue Ridge TREX, North Carolina/South Carolina
November 3-6 - Society of American Foresters National Convention, Virtual
November 29-December 2 - Southern Area RT-300, Chattanooga, TN
November 30-December 4 - International Fire Ecology and Management Congress, Destin, FL
April 23, 2022 - Party for the Pine Fire Festival, Southern Pines, NC
October 4-7, 2022 - Fire Ecology Across Boundaries, Florence, Italy
October 25-28, 2022 - Biennial Longleaf Conference, Wilmington, NC

Prescribed Fire Resources

Want to learn more about prescribed fire? We've compiled an extensive list of resources that can help you explore the world of prescribed fire. On our resources page you can explore fire-related publications, videos, podcasts and webinars. You can access these resources on our web page, and if there's something we should add please reach out and let us know!

Jennifer Fawcett

NC State Extension Forestry

Extension Associate

SERPPAS Prescribed Fire Working Group Coordinator

919-515-8288

jennifer_fawcett@ncsu.edu

Laurel Kays

NC State Extension Forestry

Extension Assistant

919-513-2573

lekays@ncsu.edu

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