Subscribe to this newsletter!

View this email in your browser

New Research Briefs 

Outside Announcements

Show support for funding the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP)

While the FY22 proposed federal budget in the US has not been released, the past several years, the Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP), which funds the California Fire Science Consortium, has been critically underfunded. In support of full funding for the JFSP, a group of researchers, extension unit leaders, and practitioners who work with management agencies on wildland fire plan to deliver a community sign-on letter to congressional representatives.  They need signatures by FRIDAY 03/26/2021. In addition to funding critical fire-science outreach through the Fire Science Exchange Network, the JFSP also funds critical fire science research across the country, including programs specific to graduate students and research that has been identified as vital by land and agency managers. 

Please consider whether you feel this merits your signature and/or broader distribution to others within your networks. This sign-on letter is designed primarily for individual signatures. Federal employees should not use their official position or time to sign on to this letter; doing so could be considered a violation of the Hatch Act.
Add your Signature to Support JFSP here >
 

Good Fire: Current Barriers to the Expansion of Cultural Burning and Prescribed Fire in California and Recommended Solutions

Recognizing the long-standing role of Tribes and cultural fire practitioners in stewarding California’s landscape, the paper begins by exploring the unique barriers they face. Cultural fire practitioners look to the laws of nature to understand when, where, and how to burn. By: Sara A. Clark, Andrew Miller, and Don L. Hankins – For the Karuk Tribe
 

UC ANR releases new publication on protecting homes in wildfire-prone communities

A team of California and Nevada fire scientists have produced a booklet with step-by-step guidance on retrofitting an existing home to be more resilient to fire. The free 20-page publication, How to Harden Homes against Wildfire (http://ucanr.edu/HomeRetrofitGuide) is now available online. It includes recommendations for 12 vulnerable components of homes in wildfire-prone areas, including roofs, gutters, vents, siding, windows, decks and fences.

Announcement of USGS’ first Wildland Fire Science Strategic Plan

To help minimize the detrimental impacts of wildfires while allowing for fire’s beneficial aspects to unfold, the U.S. Geological Survey has developed a new five-year science strategy that defines critical science needs and directions for its wildland fire research.  The strategy was developed by scientists and communication specialists at USGS and informed from interviews with 40 different stakeholder organizations.  
Here are some links to explore this new plan and fire science at the USGS:

• Link for U.S. Geological Survey Wildland Fire Science Strategic Plan: 2021-26 
  • https://doi.org/10.3133/cir1471 
• Link for Fact Sheet on Wildland Fire Science at the USGS 
  • https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20193025 
  • Link for 12-year compendium of wildland fire science at the USGS 
    • https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191002 
  • Link for USGS Wildland Fire Science web page 
    • https://www.usgs.gov/fire 

Announcement: Launching a Fuel Break Effectiveness Survey in California

Upcoming Virtual Events

California Fire Science Seminar Virtual Spring Series

Jan 19, 2021 – May 11, 2021 
This continued online seminar series will cover the breadth of wildland fire research relevant to California and introduce researchers to new topics and research groups across the state. The series will be held weekly, every Tuesday from 3:00 – 4:00 pm (PST). 
View more information and past webinars here >.        
Register online here > 

California Forest Stewardship Workshop

Jan 27-June 16, 2021
This workshop series will help landowners develop plans to improve and protect their forest lands in an ecologically and economically sustainable manner. The workshops will address management objectives and planning, forest restoration, fuels reduction, project development, permitting, and cost-share opportunities. Participants will connect with other landowners and learn how to collect information to develop their own management plans. Save the Date PDF >
 More information and registration >
 

The 2021 William Main Seminar (UC Berkeley): Virtual series

Feb 9, 2021 – Apr 6, 2021 
This year's William Main Seminar series through UC Berkeley will be held virtually, and is open to all. This series will be held on select Tuesdays at 4:00-5:30PM.
 

2021 SJSU Fire Weather Research Workshop

Apr 8 & 9, 2021
This is the second Fire Weather Research Workshop at San Jose State University with the aim of providing the latest information and current state-of-knowledge on fire weather research to fire management agencies, scientists, students and other stakeholders. Following from our successful first workshop in 2019, this year we have extended the speaker list to our colleagues and partners across the world to provide an international perspective on current fire weather research.  More information and registration >

The complex interactions of native insects and diseases of true-firs in the Southern Sierras: Virtual FFERAL Lecture
Apr 14, 2021 3:30 PM Pacific

Save the Date for this virtual lecture presented by Beverly Bulaon,  USDA Forest Service, Region 5 Forest Health Protection.
Registration link here >

Missed out on a virtual event? 

Many of our events (especially virtual) have been recorded or summarized so you can revisit or watch at your leisure. Here's a few ways to find information on past events.

1.) Check out the California Fire Science Consortium YouTube channel here >. For most of our virtual events, we'll have the recording upload 1-2 weeks after the live event. You can also subscribe to get updates.

2.) Look through our previous event page for links to recordings of the specific event here > 
 

Highlight: Recording and Summary from the December 2020 "Fire Science and Management in an Uncertain Future: Tools and Approaches for Managing Fire in Future Climates in the Southwest" 

FireScience.gov sites