As part of the SE FireMap scoping phase, the project team is working to engage a diverse group of stakeholders for feedback on proposed use-cases and database design preferences. Please consider sharing your feedback via the SE FireMap Scoping Survey and/or share with appropriate contacts within your networks. This outreach is intended to help align project outcomes with current efforts and partner objectives. The survey will be active until January 1st, 2021.
Continue ReadingRecording Now Available – The Cohesive Strategy in 2020: Dynamic Adaptation in a Novel World
The Cohesive Strategy Virtual Workshop held October 28 featured a facilitated panel with Vicki Christiansen, Chief, US Forest Service; Jeff Rupert, Director, Office of Wildland Fire, DOI; and George Geissler, State Forester, Washington State DNR. Panelists provided leaders’ intent around the Cohesive Strategy as we move forward, and some context for the implementation of the strategy throughout 2020. Several additional presenters from across the country discussed novel adaptations to fire management catalyzed by the unique challenges of this 2020 fire year. Southern Fire Exchange provided support in co-hosting this event.
Continue ReadingJob: Land Management Specialist, North Florida Land Trust
Title: Land Management Specialist
Status: Full-time Competitive salary based on experience
North Florida Land Trust North Florida Land Trust is a 501(c)3 accredited land trust founded in 1999 with a mission to conserve natural areas, historic resources, and working lands of northeast Florida. With headquarters in Jacksonville, NFLT works throughout northeast Florida and has protected over 24,000 acres of land throughout the region.
Position Description The Land Management Specialist works with the Land Manager and Stewardship Manager, as well as independently, to complete assigned land management tasks including fee property monitoring, property maintenance, and habitat management. Primary responsibilities include prescribed fire planning and implementation, controlling exotic invasive species, assisting with timber management operations, reporting on progress of restoration efforts, repairing and maintaining preserve infrastructure, and operating and maintaining tools and equipment for land and ecosystem management. Ideal candidate will have prior experience and knowledge of prescribed fire, invasive exotic plant management, as well as proficiency in safe use of equipment and tools including chainsaws, 4WD vehicles, and small boats.
Responsibilities
• Participate in prescribed fire program, construct and maintain fire lines, conduct fuel reduction activities, participate in prescribed burns and wildlife suppression. • Monitor effects of land management and restoration efforts, including post-burn monitoring and long-term vegetation monitoring. • Perform vegetation maintenance tasks including operating mowers, chainsaws, hand tools, and application of herbicides. • Construct and maintain property infrastructure including fences, gates, signs, kiosks, hiking trails and unimproved roads. • Maintain and repair vehicles and equipment. • Regularly monitor property conditions on foot, by vehicle, boat, or by drone. Identify and resolve land management issues as they arise. • Protect NFLT lands and facilities by observing and reporting activities such as vandalism, littering, poaching, and wildfires; and maintaining good relationships with local law enforcement personnel, lessees, contractors and volunteers. • Participate in
office-based tasks including research, data management, and report and map production using a variety of software programs. • Identify volunteer opportunities on properties and coordinate with Stewardship Manager to schedule volunteer workdays. Supervise land management volunteers in the field. • Represent NFLT in relevant working groups and committees. • Build and maintain relationships with homeowners and landowners adjacent to NFLT’s preserved properties. • Any other duties as assigned.
Job Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in forestry, natural resource management, environmental science or related field, OR an associate degree, high school diploma or equivalent and at least three (3) years of professional experience in natural resource management. • Knowledge and experience with prescribed fire including firebreak prep, burn operations and post-burn monitoring. • Completion of S-130/S-190 or State of Florida Certified Prescribed Burn Manager. • Experience in safe operation of field equipment including lawn and brush mowers, chainsaws, hand and pole saws, and hand tools. • Experience and proficiency operating 4WD vehicles. • Ability to collect data with GPS units and/or tablets in the field. • Willingness to work outdoors for long periods of time in variable weather conditions, be able to lift at least 50 pounds, and safely operate power tools and equipment. • Valid driver’s license, willingness to travel to locations throughout
north Florida, and at times, use personal vehicle. • Must be able to work well in a team as well as independently with minimal supervision. Preferred Qualifications Preference may be given to applicants with any of the following qualifications: • Advanced wildland fire certification or ability to obtain higher levels of NWCG qualifications. • Willingness and ability to obtain both State of Florida Certified Prescribed Burn Manager and Certified Pile Burner status within 12 months of hire. • Completion of, or ability to complete, S-212 chainsaw training course. • Experience or certification in safe operation of UTVs, ATVs, 4WD vehicles, heavy equipment, tractors or farm implements. • Pesticide Applicator License or agency-provided herbicide certification course. • Proficiency with trailering. • Experience operating boats and kayaks. • Experience using and maintaining fire equipment and heavy equipment. • Experience with ArcGIS to support data collection and mapping needs for land mana
gement. • Knowledge of native and non-native wildlife and plants, natural communities of north Florida. • Experience with welding, electrical, plumbing, or carpentry a plus.
Interested applicants may send a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references as a single PDF document to Elizabeth Guthrie at [email protected]
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.
Continue Reading2019 Fire Congress Video
The Association for Fire Ecology has released a video covering the 2019 Fire Congress held in Tucson, Arizona.
Continue ReadingJob: Assistant Professor, Wildland Fire Modeling
The Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management (NREM) at Oklahoma State University invites applications for a full-time, eleven-month, tenure-track position (75% Research and 25% Teaching) in fire modeling. They are seeking a candidate to contribute to research related to understanding wildland fire behavior and risk in Oklahoma and the United States. Application and/or development of models to understand fire behavior at multiple spatial scales is required. Possible outcomes of research include improved management of fuels and smoke with prescribed fire, reduction of wildfire risk and mitigation of its effects to infrastructure, reduced impacts of smoke on human health, and improved ecosystem function. The successful candidate is expected to work closely with multidisciplinary faculty in natural resources, climatology, social science, and engineering to meet the needs of diverse stakeholder groups. The successful candidate’s teaching program will contribute to the department’s undergraduate and graduate programs. Specific instructional assignments, including undergraduate academic advising, depend upon the candidate’s expertise and the needs of the department.
Applications must be submitted online at:
https://okstate.csod.com/ats/careersite/search.aspx?site=8&c=okstate (search by keyword req8632)
Review of applications will begin December 15, 2020, and will continue until a suitable candidate is identified.
The position will be filled by June 1, 2021, or as soon thereafter as an outstanding candidate is available.
Continuation of this position is subject to performance and need.
Fire Management Board COVID-19 Mitigations for 2021 Fire Season
The Fire Management Board has released a memo with the requirements and COVID-19 mitigations for medical exams, work capacity tests, and training for the 2021 fire season.
Continue ReadingNew SFE Fact Sheet: Legal Liabilities, and Insurance Coverage
The latest Southern Fire Exchange fact sheet is now available! The fact sheet covers Recent Research on Perceived Risks, Legal Liabilities, and Insurance Coverage Associated with Prescribed Burning on Private Lands and was authored by Dr. Rajan Parajuli, Jennifer Fawcett, and Laurel Kays.
Continue ReadingNIDIS Survey on Flash Drought
Neighborhoods at Risk Tool
Neighborhoods at Risk is designed to meet community planning needs to protect people and property from the impacts of climate change. A free, web-based tool, Neighborhoods at Risk generates customized, interactive maps and reports that describe characteristics of potentially vulnerable neighborhoods (by census tract). Additionally, Neighborhoods at Risk provides community-level climate projections for temperature and precipitation.
Neighborhoods at Risk can be used to prioritize capital improvements, conduct vulnerability assessments, inform land use and policy decisions, and support FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plans and Carbon Disclosure Project reporting.
Neighborhoods at Risk reports are based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, FEMA, Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium, First Street Foundation, and the Northeast Regional Climate Center’s Applied Climate Information System.
Continue ReadingOak Woodlands & Forests Fire Consortium Fall Webinar Series
The Oak Woodlands & Forests Fire Consortium Fall Webinar Series will take place October-December 2020. Continuing education credits from the Society of American Foresters and The Wildlife Society available for each webinar.
View the webinar topics and register here.
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