The drought that is impacting a wide swath of the southeastern US is expected to widen and or persist through the coming months. Check out the latest explanation in the Southeast Drought Early Warning Update. The update dives into the current conditions and looks ahead to the future (La Niña). If you’re interested in tracking southeastern (and local) drought trends, consider subscribing to their email list. You can always check resources like the US Drought Monitor and the Fire Weather Intelligence Portal to track regional precipitation trends.
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Fueling Collaboration 3.0 Web Panel: Talking About Fire
Talking about Fire
Thursday, November 10, 2022
11:00AM – 12:30PM Eastern Time
Registration Required. Register here.
Program Description:
From building firelines to researching fire trends over time, fire management and science require great communication to be successful. Our panel will share their experiences and tips on how to effectively talk about fire to gain support and build a collaborative network. We’ll address your questions about fire science communication and discuss best practices for defining objectives, connecting with your audience, and tools/resources that can help along the way.
Fueling Collaboration is a series of interactive panel discussions designed to connect fire managers and researchers. Each discussion will be built on questions from the registered attendees. The interagency project team is working to bring people together to discuss, explore, and address the latest fire science and management issues across the eastern United States.
Continue ReadingFlorida Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Courses Resume
The Florida Forest Service has resumed in-person Florida Certified Prescribed Burn Manager training courses following a long delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Dates, locations, and registration information have been announced, along with agendas and contact information for each offering. See the course flier below and the Florida Forest Service website for the latest information.
Continue Reading2023 Southern Area Engine Academy
January 7 – 13, 2023
Florida Sheriffs’ Youth Camp
1170 Youth Camp LN
Barberville, FL 32180
The Southern Area Engine Academy is an inter-agency supported course targeting supervisors and crew personnel responsible for initial attack and tactical decision-making in the suppression of wildfires and the management of
prescribed fires. Students receive a solid grounding in the safe and effective use of a variety of water handling equipment and wildland engine related tactics.
The academy begins with the S-211, Portable Pumps and Water Use course that builds into the SA214 wildland engine class. Instructors use lectures, visual aids and field exercises to teach the application of hydraulics, engine operations, water-handling equipment, engine tactics and safety during wildland fires. This class is highly labor intensive with one (1) instructor for every three (3) students.
Students are given the opportunity to work on wildland engine of three (3) people that will consist of a team and will have an engine coach assigned to that team for the entire week.
Tuition (includes books, lodging and all meals): $480.00
Pre-requisites: S-130, S-190, I-200 and two (2) or more years of experience as a firefighter. There will be course pre-course work which will consist of reading and viewing videos for the S-211 class prior to attendance at the academy.
To apply: email [email protected] to request an application form. ATTN: SAEA 2023
You will then receive a student application form to fill out and must be signed by your supervisor and submit for acceptance and registration.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: December 15, 2022
Continue Reading6th Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (WTREX) Heading to North Carolina in 2023
The 6th Women-in-Fire Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (WTREX), will take place next year (February 20-March 3, 2023) in southeastern North Carolina. Please see the below PDF announcement, which includes more information and a link to the online application form. Also, see below for a four-page document from 2019 that gives some background on WTREX, and you can check out the 2022 WTREX StoryMap.
Please share this announcement far and wide, and encourage people of all backgrounds, genders, and professional affiliations to apply! Though WTREX has a focus on women in fire, the coordinators are truly committed to bringing together as diverse a group as possible, including men, non-binary people, international participants, and people from all walks of life.
Applications are due November 18, 2022. If you have any questions, contact Jennifer Fawcett at NC State University Extension Forestry ([email protected]).
Continue ReadingSouthern Missouri Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX)
The following is being shared from an email announcement:
Southern Missouri Prescribed Fire Training Exchange (TREX) February 27th – March 10th, 2023
Location: Springfield, Missouri Area
Description: Looking for an opportunity to sharpen your prescribed fire skills? We invite you to participate in the Southern Missouri TREX, where putting good fire on the ground will be just as important as providing quality training opportunities for participants.
Who can participate? Prescribed/Wildfire staff including federal, state, tribal, and non-governmental organizations, private practitioners, and higher education faculty/students. We are committed to diversity and respect for people, communities, and culture. All will be welcome!
Unfamiliar with TREX? Click here Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges (conservationgateway.org) for more information.
Registration Fee: None—this event is being sponsored through a USFS: Cohesive Strategy grant and no registration fee will be collected.
Work Hours: Will need to be covered by your home unit.
Meals and Lodging: Provided for the duration of the event and will be in bunk style housing.
Participant Requirements:
• Participants must be current and qualified NWCG-FFT2, or have completed NWCG courses S-130, S-190, L-180, ICS 100, I-700 (all of which are available for free online). Contact Ryan Gauger ([email protected]) for more information on these trainings; verification of training is required to attend.
• Participants must complete an arduous pack test within the past year. Completion of a moderate pack test is acceptable if coming as a TNC volunteer and serving in a RXCM (Rx crewmember) position. A pack test will be offered to those who need one and cannot obtain one prior to the TREX start date.
• Participants must have health insurance which will cover personal injury (e.g., workers’ comp, health or travel insurance)
Participants must bring fire-approved boots (all leather, 8-inches tall, Vibram soles, with no steel toe). Participants should come with all appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including: a Next Generation Fire Shelter, a hard hat, Nomex clothing, all leather gloves, eye protection and canteens for up to 1 gallon of drinking water. If you do not have proper PPE, please let us know, we will work with you to find any items you do not have. Please indicate your needs on the application.
We need your help! If your agency/organization is able to provide either a Type 6 Engine or crew cab truck for transport of crew for this event your application will receive priority in the nomination process.
Registration: To apply, complete this application form TREX Nomination Form (jotform.com) by November 11th, 2022 (notifications will be sent out by the end of November)
COVID-19: All participants will be required to provide proof of vaccination of COVID-19 prior to arriving at this TREX.
Questions: Please contact Ryan Gauger ([email protected] or 812-599-2562)
Register for the upcoming SFE Webinar: UAS / Drones for Prescribed Fire Ignitions
Drones are rapidly changing how we manage natural resources. Join us for our next SFE Webinar on Thursday, November 3 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM ET with Mr. Brett Lawrence from RAVEN Environmental Services. Mr. Lawrence will be talking about how their private prescribed burning program has integrated UAS into their ignition practices. He’ll be discussing how UAS (drones) have changed their prescribed burning program, what they have learned along the way, and challenges that have emerged. Register for the Zoom Webinar. Questions? [email protected]
Continue ReadingRegister for the Fueling Collaboration 3.0 Webinar Series
Fueling Collaboration is a virtual event that moves beyond research presentations by featuring engaging panel discussions with fire managers and scientists from across the Eastern US. Registration is open for the Fueling Collaboration 3.0 Webinar Series hosted by the six eastern Fire Science Exchange Networks and the US Forest Service Northern and Southern Research Stations. Webinars run monthly starting in November and ending in February. Visit www.fuelingcollab.com for more info.
Continue ReadingLouisiana “Prescribed Fire for Agriculture” Workshop
Mr. Keith Hawkins, Extension Agent from LSU shared the following free workshop announcement.
Louisiana Prescribed Fire for Agriculture Workshop
Tuesday, October 18, 8:30 am – Noon, Rosepine Research Station, 176 Research Station Road, Leesville, LA 71446
The LSU AgCenter, and the LA Department of Agriculture and Forestry (LDAF) will be having a workshop to enable agricultural landowners to burn their lands safely and legally. Topics will include fuels, burning techniques, proper tools, optimal weather conditions, smoke management, liability management, planning, fire behavior and more.
This training will begin the process of becoming LA Certified Burn Manager. The completion of five prescribed fires and their documentation will complete the process. The cost is $ZERO. Class size is limited to the first 25 applicants.
To sign up or for questions, please call 337.463.7006 or email [email protected].
Continue ReadingNorth Carolina Isolated Wetlands Management Workshop Recording
The recording of a recent online isolated wetlands management workshop hosted by the North Carolina Forest Service, NC State University, The Nature Conservancy, and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Division is now online. The workshop focused on isolated wetlands in North Carolina, but included strategies and discussion topics that could be relevant to sites elsewhere in the southeastern US. Check out the workshop agenda:
- Welcome, introduction, and participant poll – Jeff Hall (NCWRC), Julian Wilson (NCFS)
- Importance of Bladen Lakes region for wetland restoration – Jeff Marcus (TNC)
- Splendid Isolation: The importance of isolated wetlands to herpetofauna in North Carolina– Jeff Beane (NCMNS)
- Rare Plants of Isolated Wetlands in Southeastern NC – Katherine Culatta (NCPCP)
- Isolated wetland natural communities– Mike Schafale (NCNHP)
- Habitat degradation, restoration strategies, & examples from FL – Mike Sisson (NCWRC)
- Examples of wetland restoration in NC – Jeff Humphries (NCWRC)
- Fire and wetland management – Ken Shughart (NCWRC)
- Round Robin overview of key conservation lands in region
- Bladen Lakes State Forest – Hans Rohr (NCFS)
- Bay Tree Lake/Jones Lake/Singletary Lake State Parks – Ed Corey (NCSP)
- Suggs Mill Pond & Whitehall Game Lands – Ken Shughart
- Key private lands (Broadwell/Bayfields) – Richard Broadwell
- Overview of field trip logistics and objectives
- Closing remarks
Check out the recording on the Forestry Webinar Portal.
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