Rogue Valley Prescribed Burn Association (RVPBA) is offering a variety of fun and educational training events this spring.
Preparing for a landscape-scale event like a wildfire requires landscape-scale community collaboration. Rural communities like ours have always worked together for the health and wellbeing of the diverse environment we all enjoy and the communities we
all care about. Developing a landscape that is resilient to natural events like wildfire requires maintenance and is a multi-step and ongoing process. We are fortunate in our area to have many groups like the Applegate Partnership and Watershed Council (APWC), the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), and the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS). They can help with grant funding to implement the initial step of mechanical fuel reduction that the majority of our landscapes require after decades of fire exclusion.
The critical second step is prescribed burning. This is the best method to maintain healthy and fire-resilient forests and woodlands around us. This is where community effort really makes a difference. Working together with our neighbors as part of the RVPBA, we can implement safe, effective, and inexpensive controlled burns in our area. In times of greater national turmoil and uncertainty, supporting and strengthening local relationships is even more important for the safety of our community.
As we move into the spring-controlled burn season, the RVPBA is offering a variety of training events for folks to learn and practice their prescribed burning skills, so we’ll be ready to go when the weather is right. If you’d like to be a part of this valuable work, join us at one of these events and sign up for our email list at roguevalleypba.com.
(1) March 7—Property Evaluation Workshop and Field Tour
Location: Pacifica, 14615 Water Gap Rd, Williams, OR 97544
Cost: Free
At this free workshop and field tour at Pacifica: A Garden in the Siskiyous, we will explain the factors that go into evaluating a property for a prescribed burn and the considerations for laying out a burn unit. The tour will explore the property and see
examples of areas that are ideal for burning and other areas that need more work before fire can be applied safely. These evaluations are the first step toward implementing a controlled burn. The more site evaluations we can accomplish, the more ecologically and socially beneficial burns we can conduct.
(2) April 4, 5, and 6—IGNITE Prescribed Fire Skills training
Location: Siskiyou Field Institute, 1241 Illinois River Rd, Selma, OR 97538
Cost: $25
We are excited to have our second annual IGNITE Prescribed Fire Skills training at Siskiyou Field Institute. This training is for anyone who wants to learn about the intentional use of fire for healthy landscapes and safer communities. Experienced instructors will teach hands-on skills including weather monitoring, equipment use, ignition techniques, and basic burn planning. Additional talks will cover fire science, Indigenous cultural burning, and more. This event is offered in partnership with the OSU Extension’s fire program and ODF.
You can register at blogs.oregonstate.edu/ignite.
(3) April 12—S130/S190 Field Day Exercise and Pack Test
Location: ODF Headquarters,
Cost: Free
This workshop is for anyone interested in learning the basic tools and skills of wildland firefighting (many of which are also useful for prescribed burning) and/or being certified for employment as a wildland firefighter. Training stations will include hand tools, their use and maintenance, ignition devices, fire engines, hose packs, and radio communication. In conjunction with free online coursework, this class will allow participants to complete the requirements to be qualified as a National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) Fire Fighter Type 2 (FFT2/basic firefighter). For individuals seeking FFT2 certification, the necessary fire shelter deployment and arduous pack test will also be offered.
For questions or to register, email
RogueValleyPBA@gmail.com.
Aaron Krikava
RogueValleyPBA@gmail.com
