Prescribed burning, or “good fire”, was a primary land-management tool for millennia, helping people control the spread of invasive species, and maintain desirable ecological or cultural resources. On this field trip, you will get hands-on experience identifying prescribed burn goals and preparing the land for burns to meet those goals.
This is the second part (rescheduled, originally planned for April 13) of a three-part series, the "Good Fire Series 2024." The third and final part, Rx Burn Permits and Process, will be April 29 on Zoom from 5:30 – 7:00. See below for more information and to register.
NOTE: This event was originally scheduled for April 13 (was postponed due to rain)
Presenters
- Sasha Berleman, Director of Fire Forward, a project of Marin County's Audubon Canyon Ranch that trains and supports community members to be self-sufficient in prescribed burning on their properties
- Mike Jones, Chair, Mendocino County Prescribed Burn Association and UCCE forestry advisor for Sonoma, Mendocino and Lake counties
Details
Controlled burning has deep historical roots in many regions of the United States, where the practice was quickly adopted from the native peoples by early European settlers. It became used widely, primarily to improve forage conditions for free-ranging cattle and to improve visibility and access for hunters.
The US Forest Service’s Smokey the Bear Wildfire Prevention campaign launched in 1944 heightened concerns about using fire as an effective tool itself to mitigate the risks of catastrophic wildfires.
But in recent decades, the planned and well-executed broadcast application of fire to a landscape has been recognized as valuable for: controlling the spread of invasive species especially in oak woodlands and grasslands; reducing the intensity of fires when they do occur; and maintaining ecological or cultural resources, such as basketry materials.
On this field trip, designed for landowners and managers, you will learn from experts about how to identify prescribed burn goals and prepare the land for a burn that will meet those goals.
This is Part II of a three-part series, the "Good Fire Series 2024," presented by Sonoma State University’s Center for Environmental Inquiry and funded by a grant from the Mendocino County Fire Safe Council:
- We ask that you attend or have watched the recording of the March 28 virtual event “Is Fire the Right Tool for Your Job” before attending this event.
- The third and final part, Rx Burn Permits and Process, will be April 29 on Zoom from 5:30 – 7:00. Go to cei.sonoma.edu/Rx-burn-3 for more information and to register
Logistics
We will meet at 10:00 at the entrance to the Preserve at 30720 Elkhorn Rd. in Yorkville. There we will form carpools to drive on the Preserve. We will need AWD or 4-wheel drive vehicles on the Preserve, so if you have one and are willing to drive, please let me know. You will receive more detailed information via email just before the event.
We will be doing a minimal amount of walking, but it will be over uneven ground. Walking sticks might be helpful.
You will be asked to sign a waiver upon your arrival. All children and minors must be accompanied by a legal guardian or a group leader who can legally take on that role (e.g., Girl Scout group). No pets or smoking permitted.
How to Sign Up
Register at the link below. Each participant should register separately. Registration is free.
About the Center
Sonoma State University’s Center for Environmental Inquiry empowers university students to work with community members on the environmental challenges of the North Bay. Our mission is to create an engaged and environmentally ready society, one where all people have the skills to find solutions to the challenges facing our earth. SSU Preserves are open to everyone engaged in education or research. Reservations are required.