Arizona Prescribed Fire Council: 2014 Spring Meeting February 27, 2014 Tucson, AZ

Agenda

• Overview of the Arizona prescribed Fire council • Current initiatives & focus • Involvement of Local Government • What’s coming? – AZPFC six-month Action Plan

Arizona Prescribed Fire Council

• • • • • The mission of the AZPFC is to serve as a forum for prescribed fire practitioners to promote, protect, Conserve, and expand the responsible use of prescribed fire in Arizona’s fire-dependent ecosystems.

(AZPFC is Associated with the National Coalition of PFCs)

The Coalition Of Prescribed Fire Councils, Inc.

“Partnering prescribed fire councils’ efforts, which collectively represent twelve million acres of annual prescribed fire use, has created a forum to voice and address issues of national concern. The Coalition’s work facilitates communication among interested parties in the field of prescribed fire, provides a focal point for sharing ideas and information, and creates opportunities for prescribed fire collaboration.”

What is a Rx Fire Council?

• • Organized & committed group of Rx Fire practitioners Committed to: – Protecting the right to burn – Encouraging safe use – Promoting public understanding and acceptance – Providing education, coordinating science awareness & burn implementation

Arizona Prescribed Fire Council  Established – July 2013  Focus on Prescribed and Natural Fire • Education & Outreach • Member of National Coalition of Rx Fire Councils • Fire Learning Network • SW Fire Science Consortium • Science Learning & Transfer • Conferences, Webinars, Workshops, Links • Training & Implementation • Rx Fire Training Exchanges • Fire Experience & Qualifications • Policy & Capacity Building

Who makes up Rx Fire Councils?

• • • • • • ANYONE!

Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) – Cattleman’s Association – – The Nature Conservancy Property Associations Private Landowners Fire Chief’s Association Research Institutions Government Agencies

Council Participation:

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • ADEQ AZ Fire Chiefs Association NOAA NRCS USFWS Salt River Project Arizona State Forestry Dept.

Flagstaff Fire Dept.

School of Forestry – NAU Ecological Restoration Institute Arizona Wildlife Federation SW Fire Science Consortium USDA – Forest Service Apache County • • • • • • • • • • • • • Anvil Ranch Bureau of Land Management Arizona Public Service Camp Navajo – AZ Nat’l Guard Malpai Borderlands Group The Nature Conservancy Ponderosa Fire Advisory Council Arizona Game & Fish Dept.

Altar Valley Conservation Alliance Elkhorn Ranch Tucson Electric Power Western Area Power Administration Southwest Power Cooperative

Involving Local Government: Doyel Shamley

Arizona Prescribed Fire Council

• Council Leadership: – Interim Steering Committee – The Council • Chairman- Bruce Greco, Ecological Restoration Institute • • Vice Chairman- Kevin Boness, AZ State Forestry Secretary- Doyel Shamley, Veritas Research Consulting • Sub-Committees – – S. Arizona Led by Don Decker, NRCS-Malpai Borderlands Group N. Arizona Led by Mark Shiery, NAU School of Forestry

AZPFC Ongoing Actions

• Northern AZ Workgroup (led by Mark Shiery)  Training Exchange (TREX)  Planned for Fall 2014  Flagstaff Area  TREX Partners • The Nature Conservancy, Fire Learning Network • SW Fire Science Consortium • Southern AZ Workgroup (led by Don Decker)  Insurance options for burns  Creation of a liability letter template  Creation of a planning and permitting process diagram  Large scale burns for the spring of 2014  Partners • Altar Valley Conservation Alliance • Arizona State Forestry Division • Heart & Horn Ecological Services, LLC • Malpai Borderlands Group • Natural Resources Conservation Service • The Nature Conservancy

Fire is an ecological imperative in our Ponderosa Pine forests

• Fire must be brought back to restore these fire dependent forests

Fire is a Necessary Feature of Our Native Grasslands Prescribed Fire is an Economical means to restore Grasslands and Hold-back excessive tree and shrub incursions

Fort Valley Prescribed Burn-Coconino National Forest Prescribed Fire training Exchange (TREX) Flagstaff Area September 24 – October 4, 2014

Northern AZPFC TREX Partners

Work Plan (10/2013 – Present)

 Assessment of Arizona Burn Laws (TNC Lead)  Liability Insurance for Private-land Burns  Developed Working Groups  By-law development and approval  Outreach Strategy & Resources  Website  Science Systematic Review – Fire Applications  Science Needs Assessment  Legislative Involvement  Presentations, news media, Education Ops  Fire Research Publications – Outreach sharing

Next 180-day Work Plan

 Continue/Complete Current Action Items  Refine Outreach Plan  Develop Communication Plan/Strategy  Identify Burn Liability Insurance Options/Plan  Provide Access to Online Qualifications Trng.

 Support to Apache County Burn Program  Northern Arizona TREX Program  Develop Burn Plan and Approval Checklist

Next 180-day Work Plan (Cont’d)

Website: azprescribedfirecouncil.org