The National Interagency Fire Center Predictive Services group issues the national wildland fire outlook at the beginning of each month. The latest outlook (pdf) looks ahead from May through August, typically the peak of US wildfire season. The outlooks assess fuels, seasonal trends, climatology, and long-term weather forecasts to identify potential regional wildfire hotspots. Check out all of the Predictive Services Outlook products.
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Where There’s Fire, There’s Smoke: Air Quality and Prescribed Burning in Florida
SFE staff recently rewrote a University of Florida / IFAS EDIS fact sheet titled “Where there’s fire, there’s smoke: Air quality and prescribed burning in Florida.” The fact sheet provides research-based information on the composition, movement, and impacts of prescribed fire smoke. For prescribed burners, the fact sheet also provides tips and resources for managing smoke responsibly.
Continue ReadingUSFS-RMRS Explainer on SW US Fires: We saw this coming
Matt Reeves with the USFS-RMRS just released a timely video “Reading the Tea Leaves: A Special edition – Fires in the SW: We saw this coming” that explores the mechanisms driving the current uptick in early-season wildfires in the southwestern US. The video explainer links regional rangeland fuel production with past and present weather trends to understand wildfire potential.
Continue ReadingSFE and JFSP in the News: “Scientists Help Re-introduce Healthy Fire in Florida Forests”
In a guest post on the US Department of the Interior Office of Wildland Fire Blog, SFE team member David Godwin shared SFE programs and JFSP supported research related to duff fire science and management. Read the post.
Continue ReadingNew SE US Fire Ecology Video for Kids: “Take a walk with Burner Bob”
“Take a walk with Burner Bob®, prescribed burner Shan Cammack, and their spunky fire ecologist friends as they visit The Fire Forest. Along the way, they meet many of Burner Bob®’s other friends who thrive when their longleaf home is burned regularly. With videography and custom animation, this video will engage viewers of all ages. Please share with the your networks.”
Continue Reading“Anchor Point” Film Screening and Event
For folks in the Gainesville and North Central Florida, this Sunday join the University of Florida’s Student Association for Fire Ecology for a free screening of the award-winning documentary “Anchor Point” followed by a live Q&A with the Director, Holly Tuckett, and Kelly Martin, the former chief of Fire and Aviation at Yosemite National Park. The movie raises awareness about challenges and issues faced by women in the wildland fire profession. Watch the film trailer here. Tickets are free but limited. Please sign up at Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/anchor-point-documentary-and-qa-with-holly-tuckett-and-kelly-martin-tickets-296871038267?fbclid=IwAR0hs4WaYiJWm7uJdSN3cBIBX8_u6Lk5hfMn0zNIk-zwj6S-HQ3hN3ErkEw&ref=estw
Contact Stephen Wasp at [email protected] with questions.
Continue ReadingSFE Webinar Recording Available: Results & Recommendations from the Southeast Prescribed Fire Training Needs Survey
The March 3rd Southern Fire Exchange webinar “Results and Recommendations from the Southeast Prescribed Fire Training Needs Survey” recording is now live on the SFE YouTube Channel. You can watch the recording here.
Continue ReadingSouthern Area Rapid Wildfire Situation Assessment
The US Forest Service Region 8 Fire and Aviation Management team has produced (3/27/22) a 5 page summary of the current and forecast wildland fire situation for the southern area. Download a copy of the assessment (pdf).
Continue ReadingHow a Hurricane Fueled Wildfires in the Florida Panhandle – The Conversation
The March 2022 Chipola Complex wildfires have burned over 33,000 acres in North Florida. In response, Southern Fire Exchange director David Godwin recently contributed to an article published in the online site The Conversation about the impacts of Hurricane Michael on fires and fuels in the Florida Panhandle region. “How a hurricane fueled wildfires in the Florida Panhandle – The Conversation”
Continue ReadingStephen Pyne Presentation “Between Three Fires”
Wildland fire author and historian Dr. Stephen Pyne recently gave a presentation for the Spring Creek Project with Oregon State University on the past, present, and future of wildland fire management and policy. As a prolific commentator on US wildland fire policy and management, Dr. Pyne’s presentation has relevance for audiences in the Southeast as well as the Pacific Northwest. You can watch a similar presentation hosted by SFE during the 2020 All Florida Prescribed Fire Council Meeting.
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