Headwaters Economics has developed a free data visualization tool that shows state and national structure losses by wildfires over time. The accompanying article argues that structure losses are a more useful metric for understanding wildfire impacts than ‘acres burned.’ Measuring wildfires by assessing ‘acres burned’ does not discern the positive impacts of wildfires in terms of fuel reduction, ecosystem restoration and wildlife habitat from the negative impacts of wildfire. In comparison, tracking structures lost, while imperfect due to reporting processes, can provide a more nuanced measure of the human and economic toll of wildfires.
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USFS Webinar this Week: “Know Your Smoke”
USFS Webinar “Know Your Smoke”
Wednesday, November 18 @10 – 11am MT
Presented by Shawn Urbanski, Research Physical Scientist and Duncan Lutes, RMRS Fire Ecologist
In this short webinar, RMRS Research Physical Scientist Shawn Urbanski and Fire Ecologist Duncan Lutes will discuss the current state of the science on wildland fire smoke emissions, including pollutants present in smoke, methods for quantifying emission flux, existing datasets, tools, and models, and deficiencies in current scientific understanding. For more information on this project, see this USFS-RMRS “Science You Can Use” bulletin.
Meeting ID: 161 0453 0612
Password: USFS1905!
Or connect with your phone: 1-669-254-5252 US (San Jose)
1-646-828-7666 US (New York)
Continue ReadingPartner Webinar: Disaster Recovery During a Global Pandemic
The Global Change Fellows of the Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center have congregated a second multi-disciplinary panel to address how COVID-19 has affected disaster recovery and community resilience strategies. The seminar will be structured as a panel discussion among scientists and professionals from the Eastern and Western regions of the United States, and the Caribbean. They will bring their expertise and experience as they answer questions provided by the Fellows and audience members. Our panelists will explore the changes and adjustments to disaster recovery due to COVID-19 and discuss the implications for future actions on disaster recovery and community resilience.
Continue ReadingSFE Webinar: The Importance of Management for Stabilizing Long-term Carbon Under Extreme Fire Weather
Host: US Forest Service Southern Research Station, the Southern Fire Exchange and the University of Florida.
Presenter: Louise Loudermilk, Ph.D., US Forest Service Southern Research Station
Abstract:
Hardwood-cypress swamps, or ephemeral wetlands, that typically burned less frequently form a spatial matrix with their more frequently burned neighbors, pine flatwoods, causing unique patterns of low to high intensity fires, variation in smoke emissions and overall ecosystem carbon stores in these southeastern forests. At the Osceola National Forest in Florida, our group examined the effects of different long-term management practices (prescribed fire, harvest, no fire) during extreme fire weather across these two vastly different, yet intertwined ecosystems using a simulation model. This presentation will discuss how future extreme fire weather may alter future fire conditions, and how we can spatially optimize prescribed fire and timber harvest to manage wildfire risk.
Registration Required: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_v2N_twSBRBS4-d8xAxx9hg
Continue ReadingSFE Webinar: The Importance of Management for Stabilizing Long-term Carbon in a Southeastern Forest Matrix Under Extreme Fire Weather
Host: US Forest Service Southern Research Station, the Southern Fire Exchange and the University of Florida.
Presenter: Louise Loudermilk, Ph.D., US Forest Service Southern Research Station
Abstract:
Hardwood-cypress swamps, or ephemeral wetlands, that typically burned less frequently form a spatial matrix with their more frequently burned neighbors, pine flatwoods, causing unique patterns of low to high intensity fires, variation in smoke emissions and overall ecosystem carbon stores in these southeastern forests. At the Osceola National Forest in Florida, our group examined the effects of different long-term management practices (prescribed fire, harvest, no fire) during extreme fire weather across these two vastly different, yet intertwined ecosystems using a simulation model. This presentation will discuss how future extreme fire weather may alter future fire conditions, and how we can spatially optimize prescribed fire and timber harvest to manage wildfire risk.
Registration Required: https://ufl.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_v2N_twSBRBS4-d8xAxx9hg
Continue ReadingPartner Webinar: Becoming Wildfire Ready with Firewise USA
Join NFPA’s wildfire safety team on this free webinar to learn how to work with your neighbors to create a safer community! We’ll walk step by step through the process of organizing a Firewise USA® site, using our online Portal and web resources to help you learn about wildfire and take action to make homes more ignition-resistant. If you’re already part of one of the more than 1,700 Firewise USA® sites around the nation, we’ll show you how to update your information for 2020 and point out where to find new and helpful resources to educate and motivate your neighbors.
Continue ReadingPartner Webinar: Assessing Firesheds for Prioritization, Planning and Investment
Presented by Alan Ager, Research Forester, USFS Rocky Mountain Research Station
The first webinar in a series of virtual learning opportunities sponsored by the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy that address the cultural shifts and adaptations that are being embraced at all levels to evolve and advance progress toward the vision and goals of the Cohesive Wildland Fire Strategy.
Continue ReadingPartner Webinar: Improving Firefighter Safety Tools
Host: Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service
Presenter: Dr. Matt Jolly, Ecologist, Rocky Mountain Research Station, USDA Forest Service
Abstract: Safety tools for wildland firefighters.
Connection Information: Click here to join the webinar. Audio: 888-844-9904, Access 1625330#
New USFS SRS GTR: Fire in Southern Appalachians – Understanding Impacts, Interventions and Future Fire Events
A new General Technical Report (GTR) from the US Forest Service Southern Research Station (GTR SRS-249) discusses the 2016 wildfire year in the Southern Appalachians as well as the current prescribed fire situation within the region and forecast fire activity for the region through 2060. Download and read the full GTR here (pdf) or access the USFS SRS source page.
The USFS SRS-249 abstract:
Continue ReadingFrom October to December of 2016, a confluence of human and environmental factors led to an outbreak of wildfires across the Southern Appalachian Mountains. This report examines the time trends of fire in the Southern Appalachian region, including mitigation activities and forecasting acres burned. The introduction (ch. 1) of this report describes the 2016 Southern Appalachian fires on public lands and provides a brief description of the methodology used to understand economic impacts of fire. Chapters 2 and 3 examine how prescribed fire is used in this region. The final chapter (ch. 4) describes how we can expect area burned by both human- and lightning-caused fires to change given increases in global temperatures, fuels, and wildland fire management.
Partner Webinar: Wildfires and Insurance: How to Protect Your Property from Wildfire
Host: National Fire Protection Association
Presenters: Faraz Hedayati, PhD, IBHS Research Engineer, Daniel Gorham, P.E., IBHS Research Engineer
Abstract: The wildfires of 2017 and 2018 underscored the risk that wildfires can pose to many communities throughout the United States. With increasing wildfire risks for many comes the reality that preparedness is a year-round endeavor. However, reducing your risk can be affordable and practical. Research from the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) shows a variety of low-cost, do-it-yourself actions can reduce common structural vulnerabilities and increase the chances of a home or business surviving a wildfire. Wildfire experts from IBHS will join NFPA on May 20 (10-11 AM PDT) to outline how affordable weekend projects can have a significant impact on your wildfire risks.
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