A New York Times piece addresses the fact that the threat of wildfires is growing due to climate change. It gives an overview of the steps homeowners can take to protect their homes.
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Recordings from NC Prescribed Fire Council Meeting Available
Research Projects Address Fire Management with Technology
Several research projects that aim to improve fire management with technological solutions are either underway or have been recently funded:
AI To Fight Wildfires: USC to Co-Lead an NSF-Funded Project for Controlled Burns and Fire Mitigation
Continue ReadingWhat Do Retardant Chemicals Used in Wildfires Mean for Wildlife?
An article in Environmental Health News examines how aerial fire retardant may impact wildlife.
Continue ReadingJob: Fire Program Director, North Carolina TNC
The Fire Program Director supports and guides Chapter programs to ensure the scientifically defensible execution of forest restoration and management throughout NC, with the goal of increasing resilience of forest ecosystems in the face of climate change. This position provides oversight and technical support to TNC fire operations in North Carolina, ensuring adherence to the highest for safety and mitigation of risk, while achieving ecological outcomes. The NC burn season is year-round with a peak burn season between January and May, and the program accomplishes an average of 130 burns per year on 38,000 acres. Most burns are conducted in coastal plain longleaf pine systems and pine-oak forests in the Southern Blue Ridge. For most of the annual acreage burned, TNC is assisting partner agencies. TNC staff from across the state may lead or assist with burns in 3-5 locations on the same day, including in neighboring states, and often share crews with state partners. Permanent TNC fire staff are based in 5 locations across the state and an additional 50 seasonal fire staff are hired in support of our programs throughout the year. The Fire Program Director has oversight of fire qualifications and fire implementation but does not have direct supervisory responsibilities.
The Fire Program Director approves Site Fire Management Plans and Prescribed Burn Unit Plans, and modifies or exempts specific fire management requirements as defined in TNC’s Fire Management Manual. They mentor, evaluate and designates burn bosses, in writing, with notification to the Fire Management Coordinator; certifies task books, including RxB2; conducts or assists with training at local and national levels; and ensures that TNC’s fire guidelines and requirements are met or exceeded. They have the authority to temporarily suspend fire management program operations because of safety concerns or non-compliance with TNC standards. They provide technical and scientific support to fire planners and burn bosses, reviews proposed contracts and staff qualifications for prescribed fire operations and provides input to TNC legal counsel on fire policy. They may teach fire training classes with NC fire partners. They keep current on internal and external developments and trends in the field of wildland fire management and keeps abreast of new burn techniques and equipment to enhance skills and maintain/grow fire credentials of TNC staff. This may include participation in wildland fire suppression activities with external partners. To maintain excellence in their program, they build strong partnerships with public and private partners to further the goals of TNC, and keeps senior leadership in their area informed of fire program activities, needs, risks and accomplishments.
The Fire Program Director ensures that the best available science guides our forest restoration work and conservation strategies, with an emphasis on building resilience in natural communities, thus allowing them to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem function in a changing climate. They assist in developing and implementing relevant strategies as part of the chapter’s Conservation Steering Committee. They pursue grants and private donations to support the fire program and manages relevant grants and contracts. They are a member of the Southern Blue Ridge and Longleaf Whole Systems teams and connects chapter work to TNC’s North America Living with Fire strategy. They serve as the principle contact to government agencies, other conservation organizations, and the academic community on fire issues. The position will build on a history of local collaboration as well as the support of national networks such as the Fire Learning Network. They play a guiding role in the Southern Blue Ridge Fire Learning Network and represents TNC on the NC Prescribed Fire Council, the NC Fire Environment Committee, and TNC’s Fire Management Advisory team.
We prefer that this position is based in Durham, North Carolina by early fall 2021. Because of COVID, initial work may need to be conducted from a home office and in the field, until TNC guidance allows office work, likely in late summer of 2021.
Continue ReadingNew Technology Seeks to Identify Buildings Damaged by Wildfire
People around the world are suffering from the nerve-wracking anxiety of waiting weeks or months to find out if a home has been damaged by an intensifying wildfire. Now that the smoke disappears for aerial photography, researchers have found a way to identify damage to the building within minutes.
Through a system they call Damage Map, a team at Stanford University and California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) has brought an artificial intelligence approach to building evaluation. Instead of comparing the previous and next photos Machine learning Depends only on post-fire images.
Continue ReadingSouthern Plains Drought Update
Severe drought conditions appear in Oklahoma and Kansas. Moderate drought conditions expand in parts of northern Texas, and Oklahoma and Kansas. The Drought Early Warning Update is issued in partnership between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the USDA Southern Plains Climate Hub, and the offices of the state climatologist for Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
Continue ReadingCOVID Hits Wildfire Fighters Even Harder Than Last Year
An article from the Pew Charitable Trusts addresses how COVID-19 has impacted wildland firefighters worse in 2021 as compared to 2020.
Continue ReadingDr. Toddi Steelman: Time to Change How We Fight Wildfires
Dr. Toddi Steelman, president of the International Association of Wildland Fire and the Stanback Dean of Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment published an opinion piece in The Hill about the need to change how we address wildfires in the era of climate change.
Continue ReadingInterior Department and Intertribal Timber Council Sign MOU
DOI and the Intertribal Timber Council announce signing of a MOU that will strengthen collaboration in wildland fire management. The press release can be viewed at https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-department-and-intertribal-timber-council-strengthen-wildland-fire-management
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