North Florida Prescribed Burn Association

Tall Timbers Central Florida Fall Field Day
Date: Friday, November 1, 2024
Time: 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: Escape Ranch, 1580 Fellsmere Road, Kenansville, Florida 34739
Escape Ranch is a privately owned, non-commercial recreational property with a rich history of quail hunting and land stewardship. Since 2005, Tall Timbers has intensely studied the population ecology of wild bobwhites and their responses to land management choices at the Ranch.

Central Florida Fall Field Day Escape Ranch is a privately owned, non-commercial recreational property with a rich history of quail hunting and land stewardship. Since 2005, Tall Timbers has intensely studied the population ecology of wild bobwhites and their responses to land management choices at the Ranch. Join us for a great....

Provided by Tall Timbers, a Research Station & Land Conservancy -

Don't miss the Flatwoods Fire and Natural Festival
Saturday, February 1, 2025
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Austin Cary State Forest Camp (10625 NE Waldo Road, Gainesville FL)

Tall Timbers Albany / Red Hills Fall Field Day
Date: Friday, October 25, 2024
Time: 7:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Location: The Jones Center at Ichauway, 3988 Jones Center Dr, Newton, GA 39870
Learn about the property's history, hear the quail hatch report, and enjoy a land management field tour. To cap off the day, a BBQ lunch will be served under the tent.

Albany Fall Field Day Don't miss this year's event at Ichauway. The field tour includes discussions on modern quail management on a historic property and the benefits to other species. 7:30 AM Registration Opens 8:00 AM Property History & Quail Hatch Update Under the Tent 9:00 AM Depart for Ichauway Field Tour 12:00 PM B...

The NFPBA General Meeting has been 💥rescheduled 💥for Saturday November 16th at Austin Cary Memorial Forest, Stern Learning Center. 🌲10625 NE Waldo Rd., Gainesville, FL 32609 ……Sign in and networking starts at 8:30am. Meeting starts at 9am and should wrap up at about noon.

From North Florida PBA: Due to anticipated storm recovery activities, the General Membership meeting scheduled for Saturday, October 12th has been canceled and will be re-scheduled for a later date. Announcement of the new meeting date will be made within the next week or so. Everyone please stay safe!

Learn to Hack-and-squirt 🌳

Join Alachua Conservation Trust and the North Florida Prescribed Burn Association in a tour across North Central Florida! We'll be visiting varying lands all using prescribed fire to meet their management objectives. Whether you're new to natural resources or interested in long-term outlooks, there's something for everyone to see and to learn.

New Trademarked slogan on patches and stickers are now available. Safe burning!

Wonderful video full of education and helpful for anyone working to educate themselves or others about the importance of fire in Florida.

My Florida Forest We are a collaboration between the Florida Forest Service, Florida Forestry Association, the University of Florida, and filmmakers from Untamed Science, with the goal to help keep Florida’s forests working for you.

Tall Timbers, a Research Station & Land Conservancy is organizing a wonderful event! Check out the details here- “Tall Timbers Fall Field Days OCTOBER 25th | Albany Fall Field Day Join us in Newton, Georgia, for a special day at The Jones Center at Ichauway. Learn about the property’s history, hear the quail hatch report, and enjoy a land management field tour. To cap off the day, a BBQ lunch will be served under the tent”

Good news!!

Florida Sets Prescribed Fire Record!
Florida has reported a landmark year in practices, treating over 2.3 million acres across the state. This great achievement highlights Florida's proactive approach to managing its diverse ecosystems through controlled burns.
https://www.morningagclips.com/florida-has-record-setting-year-for-applying-prescribed-fire

Altered Understanding, And Then Some
Ben Williams -
In the last issue of Fire In The Pines connection was demonstrated between Florida’s economy and the maintenance of our underlying unique ecological attributes, maintenance which to a very great extent must be accomplished with prescribed fire. The connection made focused on the tourism industry portion of Florida’s economy. This was simply because making that connection is so darn easy. And of course, because we all know how large and important the tourism industry is to Florida. Left unsaid in that prior piece was the importance of the agriculture component of this discussion. That part of the economic connection is familiar to us here in NE Florida as many of us in NFPBA own timberland and understand the economic value of burning to forestry.
What we here in our area may not realize is that Florida ranks 9th in the nation in beef cattle production and that the burning of grazing lands on the very large cattle ranches of Central Florida and South Florida is an indispensable part of raising cattle in Florida. The UF IFAS publication pertaining to managing Florida rangeland linked here
( https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/AG173 ) is worth a read if you have time. What you’ll note in it is precisely the same description of forage nutrient value improvement we’ve all heard at one time or another from various sources, this time though accruing benefit to cattle rather than wildlife.
We’ll not belabor the agriculture piece of this further, except to suggest that it’s to be kept in mind as part of what we are protecting when we work on maintaining the ability to manage land with fire.
Which brings us to something mentioned by our new NFPBA President John Herbert in his President’s Message that leads this issue of Fire In The Pines. In his message President Herbert identifies “Outreach” as an important function of NFPBA. He also notes how we’ve
reached a point with NFPBA where our ability to have a “greater positive influence on the larger Rx community” is now significant. Implicit in these two important thoughts of his is the proposition that we should be, and that we can be, part of an effort to not just protect the right to burn in Florida but in a more forward thinking way we can be part of enhancing burning in Florida.
We ( NFPBA ) have already trod a ways down that road as evidenced by our sponsoring two scholarships when we sent a UF IFAS agent and a Florida Master Naturalist instructor
through the Florida Forest Service Burn Manager Course. The expectation with the scholarships being that with greater understanding both these young women now have they will be advocates for prescribed fire in Florida…….and that their reach will be to people we ourselves would never come in contact with.
We’ve followed that up with a second effort along the same lines…..more on that in a later issue.
So…bringing it all back around to the idea of “Altered Understanding”, which is where this was launched from last issue….and folding in President Herbert’s sound observations pertaining to outreach and our ability to effect prescribed fire policy positively... where we are, where we should be both as an organization and as prescribed burners individually, is
better armed to make the case for prescribed fire. This is especially true in regards to the economic case for prescribed fire in Florida.
Now we have to continue to fulfill the “Outreach” President Herbert mentions.

Gulf to Atlantic Restoration Partnership

Development of the Gulf to Atlantic Restoration Partnership (GARP)
Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) has, with funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) Longleaf Landscape Stewardship Fund, developed a combined landscape scale partnership in North Florida and Southeast Georgia to restore and manage longleaf pine in its historic range. This newly formed partnership, known as Gulf to Atlantic
Restoration Partnership (GARP) incorporates within its boundary the Okefenokee to Osceola Local Implementation Team (O2LIT) and the Ocala Local Implementation Team (OLIT), as
well as surrounding counties.
Funding for GARP supports partnership coordination of the many federal, state and non- government organizations working together within the GARP boundary, private landowner engagement, longleaf habitat management and restoration with a dedicated fire and restoration team. ACT looks forward to continuing the good work accomplished by the two Local Implementation Teams that sit within the GARP boundary, expanding collaboration
across the landscape, and increasing longleaf restoration in the now 32-county GARP landscape.
How does the GARP project help private landowners?
● Increased management assistance available to private and public landowners such as land management planning, prescribed burning, invasive species management, site prep for restoration, and native species planting in longleaf habitat.
● Access to supplies and resources (longleaf pine seedlings and equipment).
● Enhanced opportunities for participation in partner funding programs.
How does the GARP project help public lands and partner organizations?
● Enhanced communications and coordination among partner organizations with regular partnership meetings and dedicated staff.
● Tracking and reporting outcomes at the regional level, and how this affects the goals of the America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative.
● Ability to tell the story of America’s longleaf pine restoration goals and successes. If you are interested in more information on actions happening within the GARP boundary for longleaf habitat management and restoration and/or are a public or private landowner
interested in assistance, please reach out to Kimberly Tillman
([email protected]) or Barry Coulliette
([email protected])
https://www.alachuaconservationtrust.org/habitat-restoration
● Tracking and reporting outcomes at the regional level, and how this affects the goals of the America’s Longleaf Restoration Initiative.
● Ability to tell the story of America’s longleaf pine restoration goals and successes. If you are interested in more information on actions happening within the GARP boundary
for longleaf habitat management and restoration and/or are a public or private landowner interested in assistance, please reach out to Kimberly Tillman
([email protected]) or Barry Coulliette
([email protected])
https://www.alachuaconservationtrust.org/habitat-restoration

Alachua Conservation Trust — Habitat Restoration & Management Saving land is just the first step. Purchasing land for conservation or placing conservation easements on private property ensures that those lands are protected forever. ACT then works with its partners and landowners to continue to maintain the land in ways that make conservation and restoration a...

Southeast Rx Fire shared this great graphic. Go check out their page here - https://www.facebook.com/SoutheastRxFire

NFPBA Coordinator: Barry Coulliette
As the Coordinator for the North Florida Prescribed Burn Association, I planned and coordinated 25 burns totaling 1,265 acres. Four of those burns were conducted on multiple landowner properties at the same time.
I have nine more prescriptions developed and planned for this burn season. When proper burn conditions and staffing line up they will be conducted over the next 80 days. There were also two burns that I did not plan or coordinate but was allowed to perform as line boss on. In addition to the burns, there were 21 site visits with prospective new members as well as
follow up meetings with current members. These numbers only represent what I was directly involved with. Other NFPBA members conducted quite a few burns on their properties as well.
NFPBA’s Board is working on a process that will allow us to more fully collect the results of all of our efforts.
I spent five days teaching the State’s Burn Certification Class. We had 6 NFPBA members attending as students in the same class. It was a great time of learning and friendship building. I also helped five more NFPBA members complete their check off burns and apply
for certification. I participated in 11 partner meetings plus attended the Longleaf Stewardship Council Meeting in Auburn, Alabama for 3 days.
Alachua Conservation Trust hosted the state-wide burn team meeting where 11
organizations were represented. I performed both of my roles during this meeting, as NFPBA coordinator and as Director of Land Management for ACT.
We also hosted the Gulf to Atlantic Restoration Partnership (GARP) meeting at Camp Blanding. There were 81 individuals that represented 39 different groups from North Florida and Southeast Georgia in attendance. The eight presentations covering research, tools, funding opportunities and more……. all targeted efforts for habitat management and restoration! We collaborated on needs and interests across the GARP boundary and connected with neighboring organizations.
A considerable amount of time was involved in applying for and managing the grants that support myself as well as the burn team at ACT that ultimately supports the NFPBA
membership.
I have spent six work days coordinating planting of Longleaf seedlings. Several NFPBA members benefited from the free trees and the assistance with the tree planting. I also participated in one media interview with WUFT.

The NFPBA routinely collects data on the level of effort we put into our work – most often in the form of labor hours. The data are useful in documenting our compliance with grant requirements and to give us an idea of our performance as an organization. Rick Robbins began that data collection effort and John Herbert took over several years ago. Joey Greene has volunteered to take over the responsibility of collecting and recording those data –
relieving John of that responsibility.

So… from this point forward, please collect your data on our Volunteer Sign In form and then send it to Joey at the following email address: [email protected]. We will update the form on the website, so it reflects the correct email address. You can either take a photo of the form and send it directly from your phone or scan it and send it.

The National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center's three-month forecast (June/July/August) is for temperatures to be leaning to likely above average with precipitation leaning above average. So with the possibility of burning into June or July, as we did last year we need to be cautious not to endanger the health of our fire teams!

July 10th - Prescribed Burning: The Basics
9:00 am to 4:00 pm ET at UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center, 155 Research Rd., Quincy, FL 32351. Provided by Northwest Florida Prescribed Burn Association. What does it take to conduct a prescribed burn? What fundamentals are necessary to complete a prescribed burn safely.? These questions and many others will be discussed through topics like basic burn planning, firelines, weather factors, smoke management, knowing when and how to burn, and cost-share opportunities. Free, lunch included. See link above to register.

Prescribed Burning: The Basics What does it take to conduct a prescribed burn? What fundamentals are necessary to complete a prescribed burn safely.? These questions and many others will be discussed through topics like basic burn planning, firelines, weather factors, smoke management, knowing when to burn and how to burn it, and...

New NFPBA Board Members 🔥
At our general meeting, held March 9 at Austin Cary Learning Center, NFPBA membership approved the recommendation of the Nominating Committee. As such, John Herbert, Bob Jenkins, Cara Smith, and Ben Williams were elected to two-year terms.
New board members Jim Fischer, Donald Swearingen, and Cory Young were elected to one-year terms. The terms of service for existing board members Lori Carroll and Kevin Guinn will end next year at the same time as Jim’s, Donald’s, and Cory’s terms. This arrangement of terms will create a staggering of 2-year terms moving forward, which should enhance the continuity and smooth functioning of the board. The new board met after the general meeting concluded and elected the following officers:
President – John Herbert
Vice President – Bob Jenkins
Secretary – Cara Smith
Treasurer – Lori Carroll
Jim Fischer, Kevin Guinn, Donald Swearingen, Ben Williams, and Cory Young serve as at- large members of the board.
Barry Couliette continues to serve as an advisor to the board.

Personal Protective Equipment:
During a recent After Action Review ( AAR ), something our Coordinator Barry Coulliette always conducts after a NFPBA burn, the issue of potential participants arriving on site without some of the most basic items of PPE came up. And note that this was not the first time PPE has been addressed at AARs.
*In fact, in response to prior AAR discussions Bob Jenkins has taken to adding reference to PPE in our Sign Up Genius ( SUG) announcements regarding burn opportunities.

As participant safety is of paramount impotence on any burn, below is a list of SOME of the
most basic items of PPE.
Natural fiber or Nomex clothing.
Shirts should be long sleeves.
Eye protection.
Leather gloves.
Nonflammable hat.
Leather boots, lace up

A more exhaustive list and a fuller explanation of PPE is here:
https://sites.cnr.ncsu.edu/southeast-fire-update/2019/09/09/ppe-for-landowners-practical-clothing-options/

And here:
sites.cnr.ncsu.edu/southeast-fire-update/2021/06/11/ppe-for-landowners-practical-clothing-options-part-two/

President: John Herbert -
I am honored to have been elected to serve another term as a board member of the North Florida Prescribed Burn Association, and then to have been elected President. Thank you all.
A lot has happened since our last newsletter. In this issue, I want to present my thoughts on where our organization is – in terms of the NFPBA’s positive influence on “the greater Rx
fire community” and the ability to put more fire on the ground. I then want to reflect on the large amount of business we accomplished at our last general meeting - business that
strengthens the organization.

Regarding where we are: I believe NFPBA has reached a critical mass, in terms of numbers of members and experience/certification of those members, such that we are well
positioned to advance the cause through more active outreach to the wider community and through conducting burns more frequently. Note that when I am speaking of outreach
to the wider community, I am including those who are not yet “members of the choir”. I believe that we can have a large impact on those who know little about prescribed fire –
and that will be a good thing for the future of prescribed burning in Florida. The fact that the NFPBA is in this position is due entirely to the efforts of our members – under the
leadership of our previous presidents (Charlie Farr and Ben Williams). We owe them a debt of gratitude.

We now have more than 100 members with a half dozen or more completing the Prescribed Burn Manager course within the last year. These members now need to gain
experience leading burns safely so they can help the organization achieve its goal of conducting multiple burns simultaneously on different properties during those good burn
days which are becoming less frequent.
We are also seeing the potential for NFPBA members who are neighbors to form informal
groups to work together to burn their property. As an example, Cara Smith, Pat Moore, and
Ric Ward share fences (or live across the street from one another). The NFPBA conducted
simultaneous burns on their three properties after they coordinated and prepared for the
burn. Other potential neighborhood groups are out there.
I am gratified to see some younger faces at our general meetings. Some of these younger
folks have joined the NFPBA; some own or manage land, and some do not. That is all good
(I personally did not own land and did not see the prospect of me ever owning burnable land, when I joined the NFPBA). Some of our new younger members who do not own land
are simply interested in learning more about prescribed burns, and want to enhance habitat
for wildlife, or who have an interest in advancing the cause. This is a definite “win” for the
organization. Think back to outreach. And, check out our Hot Spot Profile this month!
The board continues to believe that additional training is part of NFPBA’s mission, both for
its members in general and especially for those who will be acting as burn bosses and line
bosses – and that includes those of us who have been leading burns for some time. Barry
tells me that the idea of continued training is common to many PBAs in the southeast.
Towards that end, the board is consulting with Barry on how best to further enhance the
training of our members. We will have more to report on this in the future.
The North Florida Prescribed Burn Association conducted a lot of business at our last
general meeting, held March 9. The membership approved revisions to the bylaws, elected
several new board members, heard a presentation on the use of herbicides in silviculture,
and did a lot of networking.
Significant changes to the bylaws include increasing the number of board members from
eight to nine, and staggering terms of board members (see more on this topic in the New
Board section of this newsletter). We are also incorporating southern Volusia County into
NFPBA’s operational area, the Northern portion of Volusia having already been included.
We should all thank Lee Upright for the herculean effort that she expended leading the
Bylaws Committee. That committee “cleaned up” our bylaws to eliminate inconsistencies
and to make them easier to comply with. Lee’s attention to detail and her background as a
paralegal helped reach the end point – solid bylaws.
As I write this, I think about the diversity and depth of experience we have among our
members. That diversity in experience (life experience, education, burn experience)
inevitably leads to better outcomes from consultation, whether that consultation is during
board meetings, committee meetings, or general discussions among friends about how to
manage our land. We should all appreciate, and make use of, this wealth of knowledge. And
then I think about the standing committees the board has established over the last year or
so – including Audit, Bylaws, Nominating, Outreach, and Website Committees. So… if you,
as an NFPBA member, have a desire to contribute to any of these committees, please let
your board know. This organization, as is true of all volunteer organizations, relies on the
contributions of time offered by its members.
I look forward to working with each and every one of you to achieve NFPBA’s mission: “The
purpose of the North Florida Prescribed Burn Association (NFPBA) is to facilitate the safe
and effective use of prescribed fire by promoting landowner cooperation and providing the
resources, education, and training necessary to return fire to its place as a tool for
ecosystem maintenance.”

Fire in the Pines is ready !! Click the link and get the latest news 🗞️.

Volume 6, Issue 1 Spring 2024

Fire in the Pines Volume 6, Issue 1 Spring 2024