Berger, Carrie

Wildfires continue to impact people and landscapes across the U.S. and beyond - with no sign of letting up, and leaving devastation behind in many cases. However increasing "Good Fire," (prescribed or cultural burning) & more not only reduces the risks of catastrophic wildfires, but is a critical component to managing fire-adapted forests and grasslands across the U.S. Millions of acres of forestland and other natural lands are privately owned by individuals, families, small businesses, tribal nations and more. However, these landowners may not have the knowledge or confidence to conduct prescribed fires on their own, despite favorable laws. A nationwide network of outreach (Cooperative Extension) professionals work to promote good fires through outreach and training for these landowners and have successfully increased the adoption of good fire. Learn more about these programs that include extensive resources, curriculum, etc.. Programs include creating and supporting prescribed burn associations where landowner members can learn from their peers and have support for their burns. "Learn and Burn "learn and burn" events in which landowners learn in the classroom and then spend the afternoon conducting a burn. In addition to these outreach efforts, there are also consortiums that translate the science of prescribed burning for practitioners, policymakers, regulators and more. These consortiums then connect scientists to practitioners, so they can learn about additional questions and opportunities. Despite these resources, efforts and collaborations, there is still room for improvement, but many of these programs and resources could be adapted for other parts of the world.