DRIPTORCH DIGEST
A Newsletter for the Southern Prescribed Fire Community
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Prescribed Fire Community Grieves Recent Loss
The sympathy and support of the Southeastern prescribed fire community goes out to Nicole's family and friends. Those who wish to do so can contribute to a
GoFundMe campaign set up to benefit her children.
Image: Angela Nicole Chadwick Hawkins
Credit: Nicole Hawkins Chadwick Memorial Fund GoFundme
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SERPPAS 101 Webinar Recording Now Available
A recording of the SERPPAS 101 webinar that was held on May 20
is now available. The webinar focuses on educating participants about the partnership's history, current efforts, and future direction.
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Job Corps Centers to be Closed or Transferred
The Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center Program currently run by the USDA Forest Service
is slated to close nine Job Corps Centers, and transfer the remaining 16 to the Department of Labor, where contractors will run the centers. Job Corps centers provide training, skills, and experience in trades, including wildland fire, to 16-24-year-olds, many from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Job Corps center in Pine Knot, KY alone
sent personnel on 40 assignments totaling over 13,000 hours during the fall 2016 fire season.
Image: Job Corps Fire Program Statistics
Credit: Job Corps Fire Program
Video
via Wildfire Today
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Southern Blue Ridge TREX Releases New Media
The Southern Blue Ridge (SBR) Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX) held October 29-November 9, 2018 in the mountains of South Carolina was the first of its kind in the Appalachians.
A story map was recently created to give an overview of the purpose and impact of the TREX.
A fact sheet that summarizes the accomplishments of the TREX and
a video produced by NC State University that tells the SBR TREX story are also now available.
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Image: SBR TREX Participants
Credit: SBR TREX Storymap
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North Carolina Forest Service "Goodfire" Resources
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The North Carolina Forest Service (NCFS) has released
a new leaflet on the benefits of prescribed fire.
A new web page on prescribed fire has also been published.
These resources will be used in conjunction with kits housed in the NCFS districts containing materials on prescribed fire, including the new leaflet.
Image: NCFS district prescribed fire resource kit
Credit: NCFS
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Proceedings of the International Symposium on Fire Economics, Planning, and Policy Released
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The USDA Forest Service Pacific Southwest Research Station
has released the Proceedings of the Fifth International Symposium on Fire Economics, Planning, and Policy: Ecosystem Services and Wildfires. The symposium was held to address current issues faced by state and federal agencies with wildland fire protection responsibility. The proceedings summarize the results of the symposium, including many topics relevant to prescribed fire.
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Oklahoma PBA Burn Data Released
Data on burns conducted between 2015 and 2018 by Oklahoma Prescribed Bun Associations
is now available. Those wishing to contribute to this data-set
can do so regardless of whether they are PBA members.
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Upcoming Workshop
SFE will host a workshop for landowners on managing duff and prescribed fire at the Weymouth Center in Southern Pines, NC on
August 1, 2019 from 5:00-8:00 PM. Registration is free but required at
pbaduffworkshop.eventbrite.com.
Latest Edition of Fire Lines Released
The second issue of the ninth volume of Fire Lines
has been released. The issue covers new research on the difference in pine and saw palmetto fine dead fuel moisture dynamics, the latest fire science news from around the region, new tools and technology, events and more.
Webinar Schedule & Recent Recordings
SFE currently has one scheduled webinar. On Thursday,
August 1 at 1:00 PM ET Dr. Michael J. Chamberlain of the University of Georgia will discuss Influences of Prescribed Fire on the Ecology of Wild Turkeys. Registration will open soon.
Weather Tools Reminder
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Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network
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Prescribed Fire-Related Blog Posts
The Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network blog publishes a variety of content related to fire adaptation. The following recent posts may be of interest to the prescribed fire community:
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LANDFIRE
ST-Sim and the Value of Collaboration
Colin Daniel, president of Apex Resource Management Solutions, has overseen the development of the company’s free ST-Sim software platform for developing spatially-explicit state-and-transition simulation models (STSMs) of landscape change - a LANDFIRE foundation. Colin says that the success of ST-Sim demonstrates the value and power of collaboration between government agencies, NGOs, and the private sector, and that "without that coordination, the ST-Sim and SyncroSim products would simply not exist today."
Read LANDFIRE’s interview
with Colin.
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Web-Hosted Applications Map
Put your LANDFIRE application on the map: Web-Hosted Applications Map (WHAM!).
LANDFIRE WHAM! is an online, interactive map where you can access info regarding applications, locations, and partners we work with. It’s easy as point–and–click! Users can search applications by region and/or category: Carbon and Climate, Water and Natural Resources, Wildland Fire and Smoke, Wildlife, and "other." (
A table of the listings offers an overview by state.) To put your work on the map,
click here.
ISARA Presents 2019 James L. Smith Young Scientist Award
The International Spatial Accuracy Research Association (
ISARA) recently announced that it presented the
2018 James L. Smith Young Scientist Award to
Dr. Zhao Xi, from the Chinese Antarctic Center of Surveying and Mapping, Wuhan University, China. Dr. Xi is a specialist on uncertainty and accuracy in spatial information. Jim is The Nature Conservancy's LANDFIRE Program Lead. Read more
here.
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Tall Timbers Research Station
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Spring 2019 Newsletter Released
The latest edition of Tall Timbers' eNews
has been released. The newsletter contains stories on efforts to map fire across the state of Florida, updates on bobwhite quail breeding season, ongoing research on the role of fire in the carbon cycle, and more.
Image: Carbon flux tower installed to measure ecosystem productivity at Tall Timbers
Credit: Tall Timbers Research Station
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Association for Fire Ecology
Award Nominations Open
Active members of AFE or SAFE can now submit nominations for Lifetime Achievement and Student Excellence Awards. Award guidelines and nominations portals can be accessed
on the awards website
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Joint Fire Science Program
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Effects of Wildfires and Fuel Treatment Strategies on Watershed Water Quantity across the Contiguous United States
Results of a JFSP-funded study examining the effects of fire on watershed water quantity
have been released. The USDA Forest Service's Southern Research Station combined hydrometeorological and fire data for 168 fire-affected areas in the contiguous United States collected between 1984 and 2013 to determine when wildland fires can affect the annual amount of flow in rivers, and to create a suite of climate and wildland fire impact models adapted to local conditions.
A number of discoveries were made, notably including the fact that the effects of prescribed burns on river flow in the Southeastern United States were virtually undetectable.
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Prescribed Fire News Roundup
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The Vicious Climate-Wildfire Cycle
How Georgia Prevents the Devastating Wildfires Seen out West
WXGA reports on how Georgia's use of prescribed fire reduces wildfire risk.
Planned Burns Can Reduce Wildfire Risks, but Expanding Use of 'Good Fire' isn't Easy.
The Conversation features a piece on why expanding the use of prescribed fire in the west is a necessary, but challenging proposition.
Wildfire Fighters Need to be Aware of Signs of PTSD, Says First Responder
To Control Wildfires, Western Officials are Urged to Follow South's Lead
The West has Many Wildfires, but too Few Prescribed Burns, Study Finds
The Los Angeles Times reports on a study that found the use of prescribed fire by federal agencies in the West has declined over the past 20 years, despite science indicating the need fore more prescribed fire.
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National Institute of Food and Agriculture RFA Released
NIFA has released a Request for Applications for their National Focus Funds project.
Applications are due by June 21 at 5:00 PM ET and must be submitted by 1862 and/or 1890 land-grant institutions.
Prescribed Fire and Habitat Management Assistance in North Florida
Wildland Restoration International is available to help public and private landowners and land managers in Florida with prescribed fire and habitat management. WRI is specifically reaching out to private landowners receiving cost share funding from NRCS for prescribed burning who need help getting their contracts completed. Landowners are eligible in the counties of Levy, Alachua, Putnam, Marion, Flagler, Volusia, Lake, Sumter, Hernando, Polk, Osceola, Manatee, Hardee, and Highlands. If you are interested, contact WRI Fire Program Coordinator Ryan Kennelly at
[email protected] or 352-373-0550.
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
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Webinars, Video, and Other Media
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Podcasts & Radio
Podcast Series
- Learn, Baby, Burn - This new podcast from the Michigan Prescribed Fire Council 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.
Single Episodes
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Upcoming Events, Training, and Networking
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Prescribed Fire Council Meetings
- North Georgia - June 6, 2019, Chattahoochee Technical College Appalachian Campus, Jasper, GA. Registration is currently open.
- North Carolina - August 14-15, 2019, Swansboro, NC. This meeting will be a joint meeting with the NC Longleaf Coalition. More details coming soon.
- Alabama - September 5, 2019, Jefferson State Community College Chilton-Clanton Campus, Clanton, AL More information and registration coming soon.
- North Florida - October 4, 2019, Osceola Heritage Park, Kissimmee, FL More details coming soon.
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Prescribed Burner Certification Courses
- October 1-2, 2019, Statesboro, GA
- December 3-4, 2019, Jasper, GA
- Louisiana - Courses are offered periodically, with one taking place June 4-6 in DeRidder, LA. Contact Keith Hawkins for more information.
- June 18-20, 2019, Pearl, MS
- September 24-26, 2019, Starkville MS
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Conferences, Workshops, Festivals and Other Event
- 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.
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All jobs are open as of the Driptorch Digest send date, however application reviews may have begun.
Sandhills Stewardship and Fire Manager -
The Nature Conservancy is searching for a candidate interested in leading a fire management program as well as implementing a stewardship and restoration program. The position will be based in Southern Pines and applications are due by June 18.
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.
Various Positions - Wildland Restoration International is currently recruiting conservation-minded, NWCG-qualified staff for the following prescribed fire and ecosystem restoration team positions. Please
visit their website for more information and application instructions. WRI also has a
subscription option that will notify you by email of job announcements and training opportunities.
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
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Find more fire-related information from our friends & partners!
Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers & Scientists Newsletter (
current edition
)
Southeast Region Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy
(
current edition
)
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Contact us to share your prescribed fire information, stories, or events!
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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:
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