The May Driptorch Digest is Now Available!

No. 56

May 2021

DRIPTORCH DIGEST

A Newsletter for the Southern Prescribed Fire Community

New Publications

Several new or updated publications related to prescribed fire have been recently released:

Wildland Fire and Climate Change Impacts in the Southern United States (Southern Fire Exchange)

Thriving on Fire: The Resilient Longleaf Pine (America's Longleaf Restoration Initiative)

Using Fire to Improve Wildlife Habitat, Updated (North Carolina State Extension Forestry)

Indigenous Peoples Burning Network (Promoting Ecosystem Resilience and Fire Adapted Communities Together (PERFACT)

News & Updates

Texas Longleaf Implementation Team Wins "Conservation Wrangler" Award

The Texas Longleaf Implementation Team was named a 2021 Conservation Wrangler. Conservation Wrangler is an accelerator program administered by Texan by Nature that helps support important Texas conservation projects. The award means that the LIT will receive 12-18 months of dedicated support with program management, strategic planning, marketing strategy, metrics capture and analysis, professional content production, and partnership development

North FL PBA Launches Newsletter

The North Florida Prescribed Burn Association has launched the Fire in the Pines newsletter. The first issue of 2021 is now available.

NWCG Safety Warning: Drip Torch Lock Rings Detaching

The National Wildfire Coordinating Group has issued a safety warning in response to an incident in which a lock ring detached from a drip torch, resulting in a fuel spill and burn injuries to a firefighter.

To lessen the likelihood of having a lock ring detach, NWCG recommends that when tightening, ensure that the lock ring engages threads for at least 1-1/2 full turns (540° minimum). If the lock ring becomes tight with less than one full turn (360°), assume that the components are mismatched; do not use.

Longleaf Alliance News: Newsletter, New Fellowship, Virtual Course

The Longleaf Alliance has recently released a number of products and announcements:

Spring 2021 Longleaf Leader is now available
The Owen Fellowship launched to support longleaf pine graduate research
A Virtual Longleaf Foundations Shortcourse will be held May 3-21

Texas Prescribed Fire Survey

The Texas A&M Forest Service, Texas A&M AgriLife Research, and Texas Prescribed Fire Council request input for an annual survey of prescribed fire in Texas. The goal of the survey is collect data on completed prescribed burns in 2020 to provide a report of total acres treated.

Southeast FireMap Webinar

A recording of the Southern Fire Exchange webinar, Introduction to the Southeast FireMap, is now available. Originally held April 16, the webinar gives an overview of the beta version of the tool's development and current capabilities.

The trailer is available for a new movie, Anchor Point, which examines issues women in wildland fire face. Parts of the documentary were filmed at the 2019 WTREX at Tall .

NWCG Fire Environment Poster Updates

The NWCG Fire Environment Poster is now accompanied by a video and cheat sheet to guide firefighters through a basic fire assessment.

Department of Interior News: Administration Priorities, Prescribed Fire in the South

The Department of the Interior has released two webpages related to prescribed fire:

The Dobyns Bennet High School Pulaski Club has a new video showcasing the unique program, which certifies high school students as wildland firefighters and provides them hands-on experience conducting prescribed fire.

Fire Science Exchange Network Newsletters

Two Fire Science Exchange Networks that cover the Southeast have recently released new editions of their newsletters:

Southern Fire Exchange has released the March-April edition of the Fire Lines newsletter.
The Great Plains Fire Science Exchange has released the Spring 2021 edition of The Lek newsletter

Prescribed Fire News Roundup

Burning for Better Wildlife Habitat (EIN Presswire)

Where There’s Smoke: Reducing Downwind Impacts of Prescribed Burns (NC State)

Fire as Medicine: Learning from Native American Fire Stewardship (EOS)

US Departments Urged To Become Year-Round Wildfire Agencies (KPBS)

Wildfire Air Pollution May Cause Skin Irritation (JAMA Dermatology)

National Forest Service Ranger Explains the Purpose of Recent Prescribed Burns (WHSV3)

Bringing Fire Home: Private Woodland Owner Perspective on the Future of Fire (Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network Blog)

Smokey Bear Awards Include Chair of Georgia Prescribed Fire Council (National Association of State Foresters)

Funding Opportunities

EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program

The EPA Environmental Justice Small Grants Program is designed to help communities understand and address exposure to multiple environmental harms and risks. The FY2021 program will support approximately 100 projects for up to $75,000. Apply by June 1.

Regional Conservation Partnership Program Climate Smart Ag and Forestry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking proposals for projects under the Regional Conservation Partnership Program, with priority placed on those related to climate smart agriculture and forestry. Apply by May 28.

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.

Environmental Lands Management Coordinator - Hillsborough County Florida, Applications due May 4

Natural Resources Specialist, Mecklenburg County NC Park and Recreation, Apply as soon as possible

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

Resilient Communities and Forests Coordinator - 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

May 11, Kentucky Prescribed Fire Council Meeting, Virtual, details available on the Kentucky Prescribed Fire Council website
June 3, North Georgia Prescribed Fire Council Meeting, Virtual
August 18-19, North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council Meeting, Morganton, NC

Prescribed Burner Certification Courses

Alabama - Provided by Alabama Forestry Commission Certified Burn Manager Program. Five courses are currently scheduled for 2021.
Certification Courses
June 7-10 - Foley
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.
June 1-2 - Waycross
Kentucky - Courses are offered periodically. No courses are currently scheduled:
Louisiana - Provided by LSU Cooperative Extension Service. Two courses are currently scheduled for 2021.
May 5-7 - DeRidder
Mississippi - Provided by Mississippi Forestry Commission Prescribed Burning Short Course. No courses are currently scheduled.
North Carolina - Provided by North Carolina Forest Service Certified Burner Training is offered several times per year. One course is currently scheduled:
May 17-20 - Virtually and various field sites
South Carolina - Provided by South Carolina Forestry Commission Certified Prescribed Fire Manager offers courses. No courses are currently scheduled.
Texas - Provided by Texas Department of Agriculture offers courses at various times and locations. One course is currently scheduled, and the online Prescribed Burn School is available.
May 17-20 - Nacogdoches
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 - Introduction to the Southeast FireMap: A New Tool to Map Fires Across the South
On-Demand - Incident Management and COVID-19: Lessons Learned and Remaining Challenges
On-Demand - Potential Applications of Prescribed Burn Associations for Family Forest Landowners
On-Demand - Venus Flytrap Web Series: Flytrap Ecology and Current Status
On-Demand - Building Effective Partnerships with Indigenous Communities
May 4, 12:00 PM - Bobwhite Quail Lunch and Learn
May 6, 1:00 PM - Fire Suppression & Mesophication of Upland Oak Landscapes
May 6, 1:00 PM - Prescribed Fire Toolbox to Combat Social Barriers
May 7, 10:00 AM - Fire Departments and Wildfire in the Northeast
May 12, 11:00 AM - Sustaining Our Oak Forests
May 18, 1:00 PM - USDA Plants Database: New and Improved
May 19, 3:00 PM - Extension of the U.S.-Wide Correction for Purple PM2.5 Sensor Data During High Concentration Smoke Events
July 20, 12:00 PM - Protecting Rare and At-Risk Species: Tools to Collect Meaningful Data with Limited Resources

Conferences, Workshops, Festivals, and Other Events

May 3-7 - S-130/S-190/L-180 Wildland Firefighter, Bradenton, FL
May 3-21 - Longleaf Foundations Shortcourse, Virtual
May 5-7 - Prescribed Fire Workshop, DeRidder, LA
May 6 - Using Soil Moisture Information to Better Understand and Predict Wildfire Danger: A Symposium for Researchers and Fire Managers, Virtual
May 11-12 - Winds, Water, and Wildfires Summit - Southeast Region, Virtual
May 11-13 - Fire and Forest Meteorology Virtual Symposium, Virtual
May 12 - North Carolina Longleaf Coalition, Virtual
May 14 - Florida Land Steward Tour
May 17-21 - National Tribal Forum on Air Quality, Virtual
May 18-20 - Southern Blue Ridge Fire Learning Network Workshop, Virtual
May 18-19 - S-231/Engine Boss (Single Resource), Bradenton, FL
May 23-26 - Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals Conference, Virtual
May 24-27 - Wildland Fire Safety Summit & Human Dimensions of Wildland Fire Conference, Virtual
May 26 - Land Trusts and Longleaf Panel, Virtual
June 7-10 - Southern Group of State Foresters Annual Meeting, Oklahoma City, OK
June 16-18 - National Conference of Private Forest Landowners, Williamsburg, VA
June 22-25 - NFPA Conference and Expo, Las Vegas, NV
September 21-23 - Great Plains Fire Summit, North Platte, NE
September 26-30 - Extension & Knowledge Exchange Conference, Asheville, NC
October 4-7 - Fire Ecology Across Boundaries, Florence, Italy
October 4-8 - National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop, Asheville, NC
October 5-7 - Land Trust Rally, Virtual
October 25-November 5 - Southern Blue Ridge TREX
November 29-December 2 - Southern Area RT-300, Chattanooga, TN
November 30-December 4 - International Fire Ecology and Management Congress, Destin, FL
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!