1. Developing a Prescribed Burn Program
Belize Fire Workshop
Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area
Scott Simon
Thank others - Tom Foti, Meryl Hattenbach, all of the burn and monitoring crews.

2. Session objectives
Describe the ecological background information helpful in development of a prescribed burn program
Describe the goals and operational fire environment influencing development of a burn program
Describe three different models of prescribed burn programs

3. Program development components
Consider fire regime
Develop ecological models
Develop program goals
Determine operational fire environment
Develop fire management plans (site and unit)
Some general thematic considerations
An example of the statewide results - Especially when our fire leaders are going for moderately intense burns - an average, and they should be focused on designing the fire to reach the objective.

4. Program development components (continued)
Training
Equipment and supplies
Standard operating procedures
Neighbor and partner buy-in
Emergency response plan
Document your results
Some general thematic considerations
An example of the statewide results - Especially when our fire leaders are going for moderately intense burns - an average, and they should be focused on designing the fire to reach the objective.

5. Fire Regime Type Frequency Seasonality Behavior Severity
Size and pattern

6. Develop program goals
Demonstrate sustainable use of pine savanna resources and conservation of biodiversity
Utilize conservation fire program to develop/refine fire regimes, document ecological effects, and document accomplishment of challenging prescribed fire scenarios to efficiently conserve biological diversity.

7. Who is going to be interested in your fire management program
Focal species needs
Identify special burning unit hazards
Neighbors and people involved
Conservation organizations

8. Determine crew number and capabilities
Staff, partners, or volunteers?
Personal Protective Equipment
Nomex clothing * Fire goggles
Fire helmet * Chestpack
Radio * Matches
Fire shelter * Canteen
Supplies & Equipment

9. Burn equipment and supplies
Drip torch
Fire rake
Fire flapper
Pulaski axe
Water pack
Leafblower
Chainsaw
ATV with water pump
Truck with water pump
Bulldozer
Helicopter
A variety of field sessions including engine and tool use, spot suppression, blacklining excercises, and If weather conditions are suitable, crews conduct prescribed burns. Learn suppression training. Fireline installation. Very hand on workshop.
Read some of the benefits of the workshop. What the students say.

10. Training Crew member - fire fighting, basic fire behavior, basic tools
Crew boss - intermediate fire behavior, fire weather, suppression tactics, special training for ignition, holding, equipment
Burn boss - burn plan development, prescribed burn execution
The most important part are the field exercises. Teams have three field sessions. They work as teams and write plans for two burn units.

11. Public Involvement/ Neighbor Notifications
Pre management
visit
Public meeting
Pre-burn letter
Post sign
Day of burn visit

12. Secure support from your boss
Work with Local Officials Bring them in early. Pre-season visit. Share plan. Day of burn.
Secure support from your boss
Get them involved
Benefits for program
Highlight cost savings
Show them results
But, be up front about costs and risks

13. Where to obtain funding for program and equipment
Rare species habitat maintenance
Wildlife habitat maintenance
Reduce fuel loads to prevent intense catastrophic wildfires
Reduce non-native species
Protect structures and people
In AR - Federal, State, and Foundations
Military, fire departments, USFS
So that’s the planning part, the second part is implementation. So who is going to do all of these burns. The National Guard staff at a variety of installations have asked for prescribed fire training. The Conservancy specially tailored a basic prescribed fire course for the National guard.

14. Develop contingency response plan
To address escapes or wildfires that threaten others and need additional resources
To manage information and public perception around an event

15. Track Progress
Evaluating individual burns - did it meet management objectives.
Evaluating the change or maintenance of the resource - is the plant community moving in a desired direction.
Evaluating the program - Are you burning enough acres, safely, to accomplish your resource management goals.

16. The best way to develop a fire program is to
visit someone else and customize
SHARE YOUR INFORMATION!!!