SOUTHEAST REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR PLANNING AND SUSTAINABIL ITY

PRESCRIBED F IRE WORK GROUP

Implementing the “Comprehensive Strategy for Prescribed Fire to

Restore Longleaf Pine in the SE U.S.”Partnership Council Meeting

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Outline

Background What are we doing?What is still needed? What will be done in the

future?Conclusion/Questions

Photo by Jennifer Evans, North Carolina State University

Fort Bragg, North Carolina

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Background-Challenges

National Prescribed Fire Use Survey Report (2012) Listed Top 3 Challenges:

Capacity Liability Smoke Management/Air Quality

A National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy’s (2012) Barriers in SE Include:

Air Quality Policy Lack of Resources

Photo by Laurie Gharis, North Carolina State University

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Background-SERPPAS Prescribed Fire Work Group Priorities

Increase capacity to burnMinimize risk of liabilityMinimize local smoke

impacts; maximize coordination between air quality and fire communities

Ensure resources to implement increased prescribed fire operations

Photo by Jennifer Evans, North Carolina State University

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What Are We Doing?

Smoke Management/Air QualityMobile App-http://bit.ly/H1tg4GCurriculum

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What Are We Doing?

LiabilityState law & liability summariesCurriculumWebinars

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What Are We Doing?

TrainingTrainer’s guide

Online, integrated curriculum

Modules include prescribed fire for new landowners, fire safety, smoke management/air quality, and liability

Webinars

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What Are We Doing?

Resources• Summary of prescribed fire resources http://

bit.ly/17tJ5XH• Cost estimates

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What Is Still Needed?

Support Required Number

Annual Cost

Burn Teams 8 $1,800,000Additional Certified Burners

390 $140,000

Air Quality/Prescribed Fire Meetings

25 $85,000

Fort Bragg, North Carolina (Fire & Ice)

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What Is Still Needed?

Increased Burning Short Term-Burn Team Long Term-Training

Partnerships Air Quality and

Prescribed Fire Private, State, & Federal

Policy State Statutes Exceptional Events

  Fire Smoke

State NegligenceGross

Negligence NegligenceGross

Negligence

VA x  NC   x  

SC x     x

GA   x   x

FL   x   xAL x   x  

MS x   x  

LA x   x  

TX x x x x

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Highlighting Successes

Apalachicola National ForestGulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem PartnershipOsceola National Forest Sandhills Conservation Partnership

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What Will Be Done in the Future?

Finish integrated curriculumDevelop prescribed fire

videos focused on private landowners

Field classes for private landowners and key stakeholders unfamiliar with prescribed fire

Options for resource sharing

Fort Bragg, North Carolina

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What Do We Expect in the Future?

1. Changes in the climate Sea level rise Increasing temperatures Reduction in water availability

2. Fiscal constraints Prescribed burning is not a 9-5 job Training is important Burns must be conducted regularly to

see benefits Weather can prevent burns Lost burn days (due to fiscal

constraints) are hard to make up

Photo by Jennifer Evans, North Carolina State University

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Acknowledgements

SERPPAS Prescribed Fire Work Group

U.S. Forest Service

Office of the Secretary of Defense

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Questions?

Twitter: @SE_RxFireFacebook: Southeast Rx Fire

Blog: http://cnr.ncsu.edu/blogs/southeast-fire-update/E-mail: lwilson@ncsu.edu or jlevans3@ncsu.edu