News

Jun 23, 2021

Learning About Burning in the North Carolina Mountains

By Dakota Wagner, Southeast Region Coordinator, Forest Stewards Guild Fire is an important part of the natural environment in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Native American communities and early settlers utilized fire in their daily lives to promote conditions suitable for hunting and foraging, and to reduce pest populations such as ticks. This use of fire… 

Jun 11, 2021

Prescribed Fire PPE: Practical Options for Landowners (Part Two)

This is the second in a three-part series of posts highlighting PPE options for landowners who conduct prescribed burns. The first post in this series highlighted practical personal protective equipment (PPE) pant and shirt options for landowners conducting prescribed fires. This post will discuss options for other PPE items including head coverings, face coverings, and… 

May 11, 2021

Prescribed Fire & Climate Change – Are We Prepared?

Anthropogenic climate change, including connections to wildland fire, is an increasingly prominent topic nationally and in the Southeast. Rising global surface temperatures are already impacting wildfire risk, prescribed fire implementation, hurricane intensity, and many other issues facing natural resource managers in the South. Research shows that these trends are projected to continue. However, many resources… 

Nov 30, 2020

Emerging Leaders Forest Management Capacity Building Program

Written by Jan Pender, Program Manager, Conservation Legacy A diversity of agencies and non-profit organizations are partnering to develop a program to build capacity to address forest management needs, particularly prescribed burning, on eastern North Carolina public and private lands. The partners include North Carolina State Natural Resources Foundation (NCSNRF); Conservation Legacy – Conservation Corps… 

Apr 8, 2020

Prescribed Fire Smoke, Public Health, and COVID-19

This post was developed with input from partners including the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Southern Regional Extension Forestry, and the Southern Fire Exchange. Last updated May 21, 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic has left many agencies, organizations, and private landowners wondering how to balance public health concerns with the need to implement prescribed fire,… 

Mar 24, 2020

COVID-19 Social Distance and Hygiene Tips for Prescribed Burners

*Current information as of March 25, 2020 While many state and federal agencies across the South have put their prescribed burn programs on hold due to COVID-19, many other agencies and private entities continue to burn. In the Southern U.S., a majority of land is privately owned and prescribed burn efforts are still continuing through… 

Jan 15, 2020

Driptorch Digest Newsletter is Returning in 2020

We are excited for another year of sharing monthly prescribed fire updates, news stories, and events happening across the Southern region! Ring in the new year by checking out the January Driptorch Digest newsletter, which contains a variety of timely and pertinent wildland fire-related information. For example, did you know that Virginia now has a… 

Sep 9, 2019

Prescribed Fire PPE: Practical Options for Landowners

By Laurel Kays, NC State Extension Forestry, Jesse Wimberley, Sandhills PBA, Jennifer Fawcett, NC State Extension Forestry This is the first in a three-part series of posts highlighting PPE options for landowners who conduct prescribed burns. The second and third posts will provide information on PPE elements including boots, gloves, hats, and eye protection. Personal Protective Equipment,… 

Aug 30, 2019

Managers and Researchers Connect to Advise on Restoration of Rare Old-Growth Longleaf Tract

By Laurel Kays, NC State Extension Forestry & Southern Fire Exchange, Kevin Hiers, Tall Timbers Research Station, and Dr. Morgan Varner, Tall Timbers Research Station On a hot June afternoon in North Carolina, professionals from organizations including NC State Extension Forestry, Tall Timbers Research Station, Alachua Conservation Trust and the USDA Forest Service met on a dirt… 

Nov 12, 2018

Unmanned Aircraft Systems & Fire: A Conversation with Department of the Interior’s Steve Stroud

By Steve Stroud, DOI Office of Aviation Services Unmanned Aircraft Systems Fleet Manager 1) What is your background in wildland fire? I have spent the last 22 years in wildland fire, including working with type 2 Hand crews, Light and Heavy Engines, Helicopter Rappel crews, Smokejumpers and Aerial Supervision. My current qualifications are Air Attack…