So…you have decided good fire could help you reach your land-management objectives on your property. Now what? You have learned how fire can help and how to prepare your land. What about all of the permits and paperwork required? Where do you start? In this virtual program, Mike Jones, forestry advisor for Mendocino, Lake and Sonoma counties at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, and chair of the Mendocino County Prescribed Burn Association, will be the lead presenter along with other members of the association. There will be much you can learn from these experienced proponents of the use of good fire. Bring your questions and they will provide the answers.
Presenter
Mike Jones, Forestry Advisor for Mendocino, Lake and Sonoma counties at the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Chair of the Mendocino County Prescribed Burn Association
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 in: controlling the spread of invasive species such as Douglas fir trees in an oak woodlands, or non-native grasses in grazing lands; or preventing runaway wildfires by creating fuel breaks to interrupt the spread of the fire or reducing the fuel available to burn; or serving to preserve and conserve ecological characteristics as food sources or for cultural uses such as basketry.
This is Part III 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 encourage you to attend or watch the recording of the March 28 virtual event “Part II: Is Fire the Right Tool for Your Job” before attending this event.
- Part II, How to Prepare Your Land for Good Fire, will be held on May 19 from 10:00 – 2:00 pm at the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve in Yorkville, Mendocino County. Registration is extremely limited. Go to cei.sonoma.edu/Rx-burn-2 for more information and to register.
Logistics
No previous experience or knowledge is required. This event is recommended for ages 18 and up. Zoom meeting details will be sent to you upon registration.
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.