A new mapping tool from FEMA allows communities to identify their risk to 18 natural hazards, including wildfire.
Continue ReadingDr. Stephen Pyne in Grist: Welcome to the Pyrocene
Grist has published a new piece by Dr. Stephen Pyne. The piece is adapted from the forthcoming book The Pyrocene: How We Created an Age of Fire, and What Happens Next, which will be published by University of California Press in September.
Read Welcome the Pyrocene here.
Continue ReadingThe Guardian Covers Mental Health Needs Among Wildland Firefighters
A recent article in The Guardian addresses the serious needs related to mental health faced by wildland firefighters, and the lack of resources available to help them address those needs.
Continue ReadingWebinar Recording: Passenger Pigeons A Force for Forest Disturbance
The webinar recording of the CAFMS webinar Passenger Pigeons A Force for Forest Disturbance is now available. Originally held on July 29, 2021, the webinar covered how this extinct species impacted forests in the U.S. Presentations by Dr. Ian Thompson (Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma) and Ben Novak (Lead Scientists, Revive & Restore) introduce the cultural and ecological significance of passenger pigeons and consider what their disappearance means in terms of ecological disturbance processes and the implications for forest and fire management today.
Continue ReadingAFE Seeks Input on the 2021 Fire Congress
With the 2021 Association for Fire Ecology Fire Congress only 3½ months away and considering the uncertainties with COVID-19 and travel, AFE is seeking input on the in-person and virtual options currently being planned.
As much as organizers want to meet in person, the health of presenters and attendees comes first. In addition, they recognize that many people are facing travel restrictions. To help make an informed decision about having a hybrid or fully virtual event, fill out the survey in the next two days.
Reproductive Health Risks for Women in Wildfire
A recent piece published in The Guardian addresses the many questions surrounding the impacts of firefighting on women and their reproductive health.
Continue ReadingLightweight Respirator for Wildland Firefighters in Development
The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is working with its partners to design and test a Wildland Firefighter Respirator that meets the specific needs of these firefighters. This new respirator system for wildland firefighters:
- Is chest-mounted and has a lightweight mask covering just the mouth and nose.
- Uses an electric blower to force filtered air to the mask, relying on AA batteries for power. During early testing, first responders gave S&T feedback that drawing air through the filter system could be tiring while hiking through wilderness areas.
- Relies on filtration instead of compressed air tanks and can go an entire shift before it needs changed.
- Weighs less than 1½ pounds.
Read more from the U.S. Fire Administration here.
Continue ReadingNew Fact Sheet: Longleaf Pine: A Tall Drink of Water
The Longleaf Partnership Council (LPC) has released a new communications fact sheet, Longleaf Pine: A Tall Drink of Water. This informational product showcases how protecting and restoring longleaf pine forests can help keep help keep drinking water safe, reliable, and affordable. The fact sheet also highlights how good stewardship can contribute to drinking water and the benefits for water utilities of investing in longleaf restoration.
The longleaf and drinking water fact sheet is the fourth in a series of communications documents that demonstrates how longleaf pine can provide certain advantages to landowners. The previous fact sheets featured longleaf pine’s resilience to insects and diseases, advantages during natural disasters, and unique tolerance to fire:
- Longleaf Resiliency: Insects and Diseases
- Blowing in the Wing: Advantages of Longleaf Pine in Wind Storms
- Thriving on Fire: The Resilient Longleaf Pine
NIDIS Launches New Interactive Maps on Drought.gov
NIDIS has released two new interactive features on Drought.gov that will make it easier for decision makers and the public across the U.S. to share timely, reliable drought information.
First, new customization and sharing options for all maps make it easier than ever to create custom, high-quality maps to include in drought or risk mitigation plans, share on social media or in media briefings, communicate with stakeholders, or report on drought impacts across the United States.
Second, interactive economic sector maps including one focused on wildfire management show sector-specific information alongside key drought and climate indicators provide vital information for private and public sector decision makers to monitor, plan for, and mitigate the impacts of drought.
View the Wildfire Risk mapping tool here.
Watch a tutorial video for the mapping tools here.
Continue ReadingCohesive Strategy Workshop Going Virtual
After careful consideration, IAWF has made the decision to transition the 4th National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy Workshop to a fully virtual event.
Read more and register for the virtual conference here.
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