DRIPTORCH DIGEST
A Newsletter for the Southern Prescribed Fire Community
No. 43
April 2020
COVID-19 & Our Message to the Southern Fire Community

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions have impacted prescribed burning programs across the South. Many agencies have temporarily suspended burn programs, and many states are also encouraging private landowners not to burn.The following information and resources related to COVID-19 may be useful to the Southern prescribed fire community:







  • Introduction to Southeastern Prescribed Fire is designed to introduce students to the fundamental basics of prescribed burning in Southeastern forested ecosystems through a free, 10-module course and includes a certificate of completion (eXtension)



  • Many groups that currently offer webinars such as the Southern Fire Exchange are expanding their offerings. Scheduled webinars of interest to the Southern prescribed fire community are listed under the "Webinars, Video,and Other Media" section.


  • 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. 


  • The "Conferences, Workshops, Festivals and Other Events" section of this newsletter includes events that have been moved to virtual platforms, postponed, rescheduled, or cancelled. This list is current to the best of our knowledge as of the sending of this newsletter, however if you are interested in a specific event please check with organizers as things are changing every day.

Most importantly, we hope that the entire Southern prescribed fire community is staying safe and healthy. Thank you for all that you do!
Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning and Sustainability

Sentinel Landscapes Partnership Video
The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership has released a video showcasing the work the partnership has accomplished across the country. The video is accompanied by a Perspectives piece that shares the story of the Sentinel Landscapes.

REPI Program Annual Report Released
The Department of Defense’s Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) Program has released the 2020 REPI Report to Congress. The Report summarizes and reviews the achievements of the Program through fiscal year 2019, including those related to prescribed fire. In conjunction with the release of this year’s Report, REPI fact sheets have been updated through fiscal year 2019.
Extension Connection
New Publication: Wildland Fire Programming for Extension and Outreach Professionals
NC State Extension Forestry has released Wildland Fire Programming: A Guide for Extension and Outreach Professionals. The publication addresses planning, implementation, and evaluation considerations for a wide variety of wildland fire programming, including learn and burn workshops, fire festivals, and online programs.

New Fact Sheet: Prescribed Fire, Liability, and Risk
A new fact sheet published by Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service and authored by Extension professionals from across the country addresses a variety of topics related to prescribed fire liability and risk. The publication is an excellent overview of principles of liability, which often represents a major barrier to private landowner use of prescribed fire.

Women in Fire: Jennifer Fawcett
In celebration of Women’s History Month, the NC State University College of Natural Resources spoke with NC State Extension Forestry's Jennifer Fawcett about her work in fire and forestry.
Scientists Call for Updated Prescribed Fire Research Approach

In an article published in the latest issue of Fire Ecology , fire scientists from across the country call for an updated approach to wildland fire science that recognizes both the unique scientific needs of prescribed fire and the potential that prescribed fire research has to improve overall wildland fire management.
North Carolina Climate Science Report

A new North Carolina Climate Science Report and plain language summary address historical climate trends and potential future climate change impacts in North Carolina. The report includes a wide breadth of information, including trends involving interactions of multiple aspects of the climate system, such as wildfire and forest ecosystem changes.
Enviva Announces Longleaf Forest Restoration Plan, Partnership with Longleaf Alliance

Pellet producer Enviva has announced a new Longleaf Forest Restoration Plan, which is a five-year plan including a number of strategies to support longleaf restoration through product sourcing and new collaborations and investments. The plan includes a partnership with the Longleaf Alliance.
New Graphic Demonstrates the Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy
This updated graphic released by the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy demonstrates how the goals of the strategy are intertwined and impact each other.
New Report: Insights and Suggestions for Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Programs

A new report compiled by the Forest Stewards Guild was created to provide guidance to the state of Washington as they work to establish a new Certified Prescribed Burn Manager (CPBM) program. The report also provides valuable information about existing CPBM programs, including those in the South.
Longleaf Serenity
A new video from Brady Beck Photography allows us all to spend a minute in the calm of a longleaf forest in the North Carolina Sandhills.
North Carolina Longleaf Occurrence Database

The NC Forest Service, with support from the NRCS and the USFS, is developing a spatial database of longleaf pine on private lands in North Carolina. Currently completed mapping efforts can be viewed online . The project plans to share gathered data with the Southeast Longleaf Ecosystems Occurrences (LEO) database.
Shortleaf Pine Restoration

A workshop held in early March brought together stakeholders from national forests across six states to discuss shortleaf pine restoration and management in the Southern Appalachians. Attendees discussed a wide variety of topics related to shortleaf pine, including the use of prescribed fire to manage for the species.
Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network

New Blog Posts:
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:




Longleaf Alliance

Longleaf Leader Spring 2020 Issue
The Spring 2020 issue of the Longleaf Leader is now available. The magazine contains a wide variety of content related to longleaf pine restoration and management, including the following stories related to prescribed fire:

  • Solving "The Duff Problem": How Scientists and Managers are Working Together to Reintroduce Fire to Long Unburned Stands

  • Prescribed Fire is Beneficial for Native Bees in Longleaf Savannas

  • Longleaf Literature: Books for Your Longleaf Reference Shelf

  • Longleaf Destinations: Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge
Southern Fire Exchange

New Fact Sheet: Planned Burn (PB)-Piedmont
SFE's new fact sheet, Planned Burn (PB)-Piedmont: Predicting overnight smoke conditions in complex terrain provides an overview of the Planned Burn (PB) Piedmont model. The model is a valuable tool for predicting nighttime and early morning smoke movement in the Piedmont region of the South.

Upcoming Webinars and Recent Recordings
SFE has five currently scheduled webinars. Registration is free but required for each.
Louise Loudermilk, Ph.D., USFS Southern Research Station
April 30, 2020 1:00 PM ET
Kevin Robertson, Ph.D., Tall Timbers Research Station
May 14, 2020 1:00 PM ET

Dr. Rodd Linn, Los Alamos National Lab
May 21, 2020 1:00 PM ET

Dr. Jim Smith, TNC LANDFIRE
June 17, 2020 1:00 PM ET

Kevin Robertson, Ph.D., Tall Timbers Research Station
June 24, 2020 1:00 PM ET
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.
Prescribed Fire News Roundup
Funding Opportunities
Close-up of $100 bills
Joint Fire Science Program Potential 2021 Funding Opportunity Topics
The Joint Fire Science Program has announced the following topics as likely potential Funding Opportunity Topics:
  • Graduate Student Research Innovation (GRIN) awards
  • Relative impacts of prescribed and wildland fire
  • Types and distribution of ignitions and their relation to fire size and impacts
  • Science in support of fuel treatment performance metrics

Georgia Hurricane Michael Funds
The Georgia Department of Agriculture is accepting online applications from forest landowners and farmers affected by Hurricane Michael for Farm Recovery Block Grants. Georgia farmers and forest landowners in 95 eligible counties who suffered losses to timber, forestland, or uninsured infrastructure are eligible to enroll in the program. Applications must be completed online and are due by April 8.

Longleaf Stewardship Fund: Longleaf Pine Growth and Yield Model RFP
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service (USFS), is soliciting proposals to begin development of a new growth and yield model for longleaf pine. Applications are due by April 30, and an applicant webinar will be held on April 9 at 3:00 PM ET.

Association for Fire Ecology Funding Opportunities
The Association for Fire Ecology (AFE) has two ongoing funding opportunities:

  • Wayne Harrison Memorial Scholarship - Students may apply for up to $2,500, with funding available annually. Applications are due each year by March 31, with awards announced by May 31.
  • Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) TREE Grants - 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 conference or workshop.
Job Postings
All jobs are open as of the Driptorch Digest send date, however application reviews may have begun.

Assistant/Associate Extension Specialist in Wildland Fire Management and Climate Adaptation - The University of Hawai'i at Manoa is seeking to fill this full-time tenure track position. All application materials should be received by April 30 for best consideration.

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.

Online Job Boards 
Webinars, Video, and Other Media
Recent Archived Webinars


More recorded webinars on a variety of wildland fire-related 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 .
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
Please note that this section is current to the best of our knowledge as of the sending of this newsletter. Events known to be altered due to COVID-19 are included if dates have been re-scheduled. If you are interested in attending an event listed as still scheduled, contact organizers to ensure they still plan to host it.


Prescribed Fire Council Meetings

  • Tennessee - May 14, Murfreesboro, TN More details will be available soon, RSVP by May 1.

  • Kentucky - May 19-20, Slade, KY More details will be available soon.

  • North Georgia - June 4, Jasper, GA More details will be available soon.

  • North Carolina - August 12-13, Morganton, NC More details will be available soon.

  • Virginia - September 16-17, Wakefield, VA More details will be available soon.

  • Georgia - September 30, Tifton, GA More details will be available soon.

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

  • Alabama - Certification and re-certification courses are offered through the Alabama Forestry Commission Certified Burn Manager Program. The following courses are currently scheduled.
  • July 6, Auburn University, AL (Re-certification course)
  • July 7-10, Auburn University, AL
  • August 10, Tuscaloosa, AL (Re-certification course)
  • August 11-14, Tuscaloosa, AL


  • Georgia - Courses are offered by the Georgia Forestry Commission, with two courses currently scheduled.
  • April 17-18, Buena Vista, GA
  • May 28-29, Mount Berry, GA

  • Kentucky - Courses are offered periodically, with no courses currently scheduled.

  • Louisiana - Courses are offered through LSU Cooperative Extension Service. None are currently scheduled.

  • Mississippi - The Mississippi Forestry Commission offers a Prescribed Burning Short Course. Two courses are currently scheduled, though dates are tentative.
  • June 16-18, Pearl, MS
  • September 15-17, Starkville, MS
Conferences, Workshops, Festivals and Other Events




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







  • September 15-16 - SERPPAS Principals Meeting, Beaufort, NC *Note: New date due to COVID-19





  • October 20-23 - Fire Ecology Across Boundaries, Florence, Italy - Abstracts are being accepted through June 1 or 30 depending on the type of abstract.





  • November 2-6 - WUI Conference, Reno, NV *Note: New date due to COVID-19

  • Spring 2021 - Northwoods TREX, Minnesota *Note: New date TBD due to COVID-19




  • TBD - Ashland TREX, Southwestern Oregon *Note: New date TBD due to COVID-19

  • 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. 

Cancelled due to COVID-19

  • After the Flames, Tahoe, CA (April 6-8)
  • Party for the Pine Festival, Southern Pines, NC (April 18)
  • Longleaf Partnership Council Meeting, Chattanooga, TN (April 20-21)
  • NFWF and Southern Company Partners Meeting, Chattanooga, TN (April 21-22)
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 )
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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

Additional content and resources can also be found by visiting our website and by following us on:

Facebook at Southeast Rx Fire and
Twitter @SE_RxFire