SFE Publications
Publications and Fact Sheets
Fire Ecology and Effects
Eastern and Southeastern oak-hardwood ecosystems have a complex relationship with fire. This fact sheet features text and original artwork that synthesize recent research on Eastern and Southeastern oak regeneration management options. (Download PDF)
The longleaf pine can be a resilient tree that can survive wildfires, winds, insect attacks and more. Managing longleaf pine stands with prescribed fire maximizes their resilience to disturbance. This factsheet was produced and published in partnership with the America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative. (Download PDF)
Invasive plants complicate management on lands where fire is used to maintain native communities. Invasive species can make it difficult to achieve prescribed fire objectives (for example, by changing fire intensity and fuel continuity), especially when they are resilient to fire. (Download PDF)
Fire can impact soil carbon in many ways. This fact sheet summarizes recent research from the Southeast on the mechanisms and processes known to affect soil carbon pools and fluxes. (Download PDF)
This special issue of the journal Fire Ecology included many articles with research results that may be of interest to managers that work in wetland ecosystems. This author-reviewed document briefly summarizes the management implications and take-home messages of each article in the special issue. (Download PDF)
This document summarizes research and key findings related to smoldering combustion in ground fires and discusses human and environmental hazards, as well as ecological effects of these fires. (Download PDF)
This fact sheet highlights the role and effects of fire in cypress swamps for natural resource managers and summarizes findings from a 2011 study on the effects of wildfire on cypress mortality. (Download PDF)
Wildlife Ecology and Management
This SFE fact sheet explores the roles of fire in maintaining some wetland amphibian habitats in the southeastern US. It talks about how fire and fire exclusion can impact wetland ecosystems and subsequent amphibian populations. Download PDF with references Download PDF without references
This SFE fact sheet produced in partnership with the University of Florida / IFAS Extension explores the impacts of fire on native bees in the southeastern US. The fact sheet includes discussion of prescribed burning strategies that can support bee populations. Download PDF
Managers can maintain a balance between recent burns that support foraging and denser areas that provide habitat for wildlife. (Download PDF)
Burning during the growing season expands the window for completing annual burn plans and mimics natural fire regimes in much of the South. However, there is concern for impacting birds that nest on or close to the ground. This fact sheet summarizes recent publications on the effects of growing-season burns on ground-nesting birds. (Download PDF)
Fire Science Information, Programs, and Resources
This fact sheet provides a summary of training, education, and support for prescribed burning in the state of Florida. This fact sheet was produced in partnership with the University of Florida IFAS Extension. Access the web-version.
This fact sheet provides a summary of resources, tools, and programs available to track and discover new wildland fire science research information and results. This fact sheet was produced in partnership with the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network. Download PDF
This fact sheet provides brief descriptions of some of the most common wildland fire initiatives, programs, networks, and other efforts taking place around the country. (Download PDF)
The Fire Effects Information System (FEIS) includes summaries and reviews on life history, general ecology, and fire ecology and effects for over 1,100 plant and animal species. This fact sheet shares instructions for locating information for a particular species and for searching other FEIS reviews, such as fire studies and fire regime syntheses. (Download PDF)
This short document is designed as a start to help natural resource and fire managers understand where to turn for fire ecology training in the southeast. (Download PDF)
This fact sheet describes key components of the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) website, www.firescience.gov, which is a free-access wildland fire science information resource providing research summaries and project findings. (Download PDF)
The Fire Research and Management Exchange System, FRAMES, is a unique website aimed at information exchange and technology transfer among all wildland fire stakeholders. This fact sheet describes the FRAMES website and the Southern Fire Portal, where you can find fire information related to the southern United States. (Download PDF)
The Encyclopedia of Southern Fire Science is a web-based resource containing approximately 600 webpages of peer-reviewed fire science knowledge about the southern United States. This fact sheet contains a brief description of the encyclopedia and tips for using it. (Download PDF)
The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is an online tool that efficiently searches thousands of bibliographic records. This fact sheet contains a brief description of the extensive database, tips for using it, and where to go for more information. (Download PDF)
Prescribed Fire
This SFE fact sheet briefly describes the concept of fuel models and some of the fuel model types most frequently used in the southeast. The fact sheet also provides guidance on how to identify which fuel models might be present on the landscape. Download PDF
This SFE fact sheet defines the concept of fuel loading and explains why it is important for prescribed burning and smoke management. The fact sheet also explores various methods for quantifying fuels and provides resources for estimating fuel loads in the southeastern U.S. Download PDF
This SFE fact sheet produced in collaboration with the University of Florida / IFAS explains how severe storms impact prescribed fire and wildfire management and key considerations for working in post-storm conditions. Download PDF
This fact sheet provides answers to some of the most common questions about prescribed fire in Georgia. Download PDF
This fact sheet looks at research related to prescribed fire liability perceptions, real risks, and strategies for minimizing prescribed fire risks on private lands in the South. Download PDF
In many areas throughout the South, long-term fire exclusion (one to several decades) has changed pineland communities by allowing thick layers of duff to accumulate. Thick duff layers pose a unique challenge to fire managers wishing to restore natural fire regimes. Download PDF
Prescribed fire is an important tool for meeting multiple management objectives such as reducing fuels and improving wildlife habitat. Most natural resource and fire managers believe that the risks of wildfire are often reduced by recent fires, and a growing body of research has shown this to be the case. Download PDF
This fact sheet synthesizes recent research in Florida and Georgia that investigated the results of longleaf pine ecosystem restoration projects on understory plant functional groups. Research shows that longleaf pine restoration projects may not fully restore plant diversity or species important for wildlife habitat. Download PDF
Researchers have been studying how prescribed fire influences wildfire in pine flatwoods ecosystems for more than 50 years. This 2-page fact sheet summarizes five studies that approached this topic from various angles and arrived at similar conclusions: Prescribed fire reduces wildfire risk, intensity, and size in southern pine flatwoods ecosystems, but for a relatively short time. Download PDF
This fact sheet introduces Prescribed Burn Associations and explains how they can help their members overcome obstacles to prescribed burning such as liability, capacity, training and experience, and resources. Download PDF
This fact sheet provides a summary of recent research that investigated the impacts of mechanical “mowing” treatments for managing understory fuels in pine flatwoods. Download PDF
This fact sheet summarizes key points and management implications from a Florida Scientist article, which reviewed more than 18 research studies and 112 publications on mechanical treatments and herbicides. Download PDF
This fact sheet reviews research from South Carolina investigating the effects of prescribed fire, herbicide, and mechanical fuel treatments on various key management objectives in an upland longleaf pine site. Download PDF
This fact sheet provides detailed instructions for exporting custom GPS enabled maps from ArcGIS that can be used on a mobile device (smart phone or tablet) in remote locations without cellular data connections. Download PDF
This study investigated the differences in practitioners’ and non-practitioners’ perceptions of fire management in eastern North Carolina, where a partnership has been established to promote prescribed burning in the longleaf pine ecosystem. These results, reported in Ecology and Society, provide insight into the different perspectives that stakeholder groups bring to prioritizing sites for prescribed burning. Understanding these priorities can facilitate collaborative burn projects—helping partners to meet their fire management objectives. Download PDF
Dale Wade Series
This series of fact sheets are authored by Dale Wade, a prescribed burn researcher and specialist in the South for over 45 years. They are designed to meld current technology with Dale’s unequaled experience with fire and science. The Southern Fire Exchange thanks Dale for these contributions from his wit and wisdom, which, in Dale’s words, “was sharpened by the many people he worked with over the years.“
Publications by SFE Partners
South Carolina Forestry Commission has developed an easy guide to help prescribed burners in South Carolina determine fuel loads are on a site. Download PDF
This guide is designed to assist land managers in estimating the recovery and growth of characteristic understory conditions in pine flatwoods forests of the Southern Coastal Plain. Download PDF
This report, produced by the National Association of State Foresters and the Coalition of Prescribed Fire Councils, shares findings from a national prescribed fire use survey. The report outlines national and regional prescribed fire activity, state prescribed fire programs, and impediments limiting prescribed fire use. Download PDF
Public Education
This fact sheet provides brief descriptions of some of the most common wildland fire initiatives, programs, networks, and other efforts taking place around the country. Download PDF
This 2-page document summarizes a 2015 workshop of prescribed fire professionals from across the Southeast and presents a list of “Seven Best Practices for Prescribed Fire Communication” that was developed at the summit. Download PDF
To provide insight on the health effects of exposure to wildland fire smoke, this fact sheet briefly describes the pollutants in wildland fire smoke and then summarizes five studies that have documented health effects of wildland fire smoke in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Download PDF
This fact sheet shares results from two studies to illustrate economic impacts that reach beyond the primary indicators of suppression costs and homes lost. This information can help public officials, community leaders, and local citizens understand the larger wildfire impacts on economies and society. Download PDF
This fact sheet offers helpful answers for general questions that the public may have about prescribed burning in Florida and contains information and resources that can be more widely used in most southern states. Download PDF
This fact sheet offers helpful answers for general questions that the public may have about prescribed burning in North Carolina and contains information and resources that can be more widely used in most southern states. Download PDF
A wildfire safety home checkup can reduce the arrangement and accumulation of hazardous fuels around buildings. SFE supported the development of this 2020 infographic produced by the University of Florida. Download PDF
Smoke Management, Air Quality, and Weather
This 2026 publication explores reasons for thinking broadly about smoke management at the regional level and suggests steps for being a smoke-conscientious prescribed burner based on the best available science. Download PDF
This 2025 fact sheet was updated from an original 2018 version by Jennifer Fill and Raelene Crandall. The fact sheet provides a description and comparison of three online tools for accessing weather information that can be critical for making prescribed fire and wildland fire decisions. Download PDF
Basic Smoke Management Practices (BSMPs) are activities that prescribed fire managers should use to reduce the amount and negative effects of smoke produced during prescribed fires. This fact sheet introduces the six BSMPs and provides a list of important resources for managing smoke. This fact sheet was updated in 2024. Download PDF
Smoke management is one of the most important considerations in prescribed fire. This fact sheet introduces four common models (Simple Smoke Screening Tool, Vsmoke, PB-Piedmont, and BlueSky Playground) that are used on prescribed fires in the South. The models range from basic to advanced in their inputs and outputs. This 2025 updated fact sheet replaces a previous version published in 2011. Download PDF
Updated in 2022 by SFE staff and collaborators, this University of Florida fact sheet provides a summary of the impacts of prescribed fire smoke and opportunities for responsible smoke management. Download PDF
Recorded August 2021, this webinar discusses research showing that while prescribed fire is beneficial to air quality overall in terms of wildfire risk reduction, prescribed fire smoke may cause serious health impacts, particularly to socially vulnerable groups. Download PDF
Climate change is impacting the Southern US and changing conditions are expected to further influence wildfires and prescribed fires in the future. This fact sheet synthesizes a wide range of recent research on climate change impacts to the Southern US. Download PDF
Planned Burn (PB)-Piedmont is an online computer model that predicts the patterns of air movement during the nighttime to forecast the occurrence and accumulation of smoke and fog. Download PDF
This fact sheet summarizes smoke research relevant to the southeastern U.S. funded by the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) as presented in the publication, “A compendium of brief summaries of smoke science research in support of the Joint Fire Science Program Smoke Science Plan” (April 21, 2017). These studies fall under four general themes: emissions inventory, model validation, populations and smoke, and potential future fire and air quality. Download PDF
This fact sheet summarizes the progress of scientific research investigating the effects of wildland fire smoke on public health and actions individuals can take to minimize their exposure to smoke. Download PDF
This fact sheet summarizes presentations from the 2013 International Association of Wildland Fire Smoke Symposium to familiarize managers with the tools and information they can use to prepare for and determine the likelihood of superfog events. Download PDF
VSMOKE is a frequently used computer-based model for predicting concentrations of fine particulate matter and cross-plume visibility from prescribed fires. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of this model, its applicability and limitations, and describes model inputs and outputs. Download PDF
Responsibility for smoke dispersal is in the hands of the burn manager. Many of the factors that impact smoke decisions are summarized in this fact sheet on nighttime smoke and fog. Download PDF
Accurate hour-by-hour forecasts are critical components of planning and managing your burns. This fact sheet explains the short, easy steps for accessing 48-hour detailed forecasts through the NOAA Fire Weather website. Download PDF
Wildfire
Prescribed fire is an important tool for meeting multiple management objectives such as reducing fuels and improving wildlife habitat. Most natural resource and fire managers believe that the risks of wildfire are often reduced by recent fires, and a growing body of research has shown this to be the case.. Download PDF
Researchers have been studying how prescribed fire influences wildfire in pine flatwoods ecosystems for more than 50 years. This 2-page fact sheet summarizes five studies that approached this topic from various angles and arrived at similar conclusions: Prescribed fire reduces wildfire risk, intensity, and size in southern pine flatwoods ecosystems, but for a relatively short time. Download PDF
This fact sheet extracts key findings for the southern states from a 2013 U.S. Forest Service General Technical Report that summarized current literature regarding how wildfire ignitions are produced, their predictability, and how prevention efforts can affect their occurrence. Download PDF
This SFE fact sheet explores the roles of fire in maintaining some wetland amphibian habitats in the southeastern US. It talks about how fire and fire exclusion can impact wetland ecosystems and subsequent amphibian populations. Download PDF with references Download PDF without references
This SFE fact sheet produced in partnership with the University of Florida / IFAS Extension explores the impacts of fire on native bees in the southeastern US. The fact sheet includes discussion of prescribed burning strategies that can support bee populations. Download PDF
Eastern and Southeastern oak-hardwood ecosystems have a complex relationship with fire. This fact sheet features text and original artwork that synthesize recent research on Eastern and Southeastern oak regeneration management options. (Download PDF)
The longleaf pine can be a resilient tree that can survive wildfires, winds, insect attacks and more. Managing longleaf pine stands with prescribed fire maximizes their resilience to disturbance. This factsheet was produced and published in partnership with the America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative. (Download PDF)
Invasive plants complicate management on lands where fire is used to maintain native communities. Invasive species can make it difficult to achieve prescribed fire objectives (for example, by changing fire intensity and fuel continuity), especially when they are resilient to fire. (Download PDF)
Fire can impact soil carbon in many ways. This fact sheet summarizes recent research from the Southeast on the mechanisms and processes known to affect soil carbon pools and fluxes. (Download PDF)
Managers can maintain a balance between recent burns that support foraging and denser areas that provide habitat for wildlife. (Download PDF)
This special issue of the journal Fire Ecology included many articles with research results that may be of interest to managers that work in wetland ecosystems. This author-reviewed document briefly summarizes the management implications and take-home messages of each article in the special issue. (Download PDF)
This document summarizes research and key findings related to smoldering combustion in ground fires and discusses human and environmental hazards, as well as ecological effects of these fires. (Download PDF)
This fact sheet highlights the role and effects of fire in cypress swamps for natural resource managers and summarizes findings from a 2011 study on the effects of wildfire on cypress mortality. (Download PDF)
Burning during the growing season expands the window for completing annual burn plans and mimics natural fire regimes in much of the South. However, there is concern for impacting birds that nest on or close to the ground. This fact sheet summarizes recent publications on the effects of growing-season burns on ground-nesting birds. (Download PDF)
Presentations & Interviews
10 Minute Interviews
10 Minutes is an interview series where the Southern Fire Exchange talks with experts, leaders, and sages in southern wildland fire management and research.
GIS and Mapping
Caroline Noble, Southeast Region Fire Ecoloigist with the National Park Service offers her perspective and knowledge of GIS and Mapping for prescribed burn managers.
Smoke and Fog
Gary Curcio, a North Carolina wildland fire smoke, weather and fire behavior expert shares his perspectives on smoke and fog issues and critical educational resources.
Prescribed Fire Techniques
Margit Bucher, Fire Manager, Nature Conservancy North Carolina Chapter, Durham NC. With over 50,000 acres of Conservancy lands Margit shares some of her experience.
Mark Melvin, Conservation Management/Education. Joseph W. Jones Ecological Research Center at Ichauway
Fire and Wildlife
Justin Ellenberger, wildlife biologist and manager for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, shares his perspectives on using fire for managing wildlife habitat
Fire in Wetlands
Mike Carloss, Biologist and Director of Coastal and Nongame Resources Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries
Steve “Torch” Miller, Bureau Chief of Land Management. St John’s River Water Management District, Florida
Fire news
Fire Lines Newsletters
The Southern Fire Exchange disseminates fire research results and information through fact sheets, the Fire Lines newsletter, webinar summaries, presentations, and research syntheses. The topics covered in SFE products are identified through needs assessments, surveys, and by the SFE Advisory Board. SFE also works with partners to identify critical fire science research needs for the Southern region.
Still can’t find what you’re looking for?
Do you like podcasts?
Listen to full episodes of our “Friends of Fire” podcast featuring conversations with fire scientists and land managers.
Are you looking for inspiration?
Have a research tip or story to share?
Let us know.
We want to hear what
you have to share.
Fire Research Results Disseminated
What’s news and noteworthy?
Check out our latest fire science research posts and fire news blog posts. In addition to the fact sheets and webinar summaries below, check out the SFE Regional Fire Science Publication Database to search for primary literature sources.