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Hello Colleagues,
The Southwest Fire Science Consortium is emerging from a busy season hosting conferences, workshops, and meetings! It has been wonderful to meet some of you in person and to work together to create more wildfire resilient landscapes and communities. We feel a renewed sense of purpose and urgency and are excited to get to work on the collaborative ideas that have been shared. With additional funding from the Arizona Wildfire Initiative, 2024 was truly a year like no other for the Consortium!
We hope that you were able to join us at one or more of these events—and if not, we hope that you will join us in the future.
Our hearts go out to the communities and ecosystems impacted by the LA wildfires. These events serve as a reminder that as inhabitants in the West, we all live in the Wildland Urban Interface. This tragedy inspires us to continue our work exchanging knowledge to protect communities. We are putting together a special edition newsletter with resources, stay tuned in the coming weeks.
Sending warm wishes for 2025!
Regards, Molly McCormick, Program Manager The SW Fire Science Consortium Team |
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Fun Facts// SW Fire Ecology Conference |
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ABOVE: Our big Southwest Fire Ecology Conference that was held in Santa Fe on November 18-22, 2024 welcomed 470 people across multiple sectors. Stay tuned for short videos and factsheets on our discussion of workforce development and education as well as beneficial fire. Read a post about our student poster contest winners.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING: “There was a really cool interaction among scientists and managers - it seemed like people were really listening to each other and trying to understand new perspectives rather than wait to hear things the reinforced their existing perspective.” - Conference Attendee
“I came away from this conference feeling both impressed and inspired about the great work that is currently happening in the Southwest regarding fire ecology, planning, policy, and management. I really appreciated the strong tribal engagement/perspectives, the inclusion of a robust social and policy sciences component, and the focus on cultivating the next generation of engaged fire scholars and practitioners.” - Conference Attendee |
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UPDATESNew releases from the SW Fire Science Consortium |
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CLICK TO VIEW A LARGER VERSION |
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VIDEO//Preventing accidental ignitions: A case study of developed shooting ranges |
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Wildfires are accidently ignited by target shooting each year. While there is no good data on the number of fires started by firearms, land managers recognize the need for strategic planning to prevent these accidental ignitions. This video explains the methods used by the BLM in Phoenix, AZ to reduce the risk of wildfire due to recreational target shooting with the construction of developed and managed shooting ranges (DSR). The video also explains preventive techniques such as prescribed fire that have been used by the Tonto National Forest to lower fuel loads near popular target shooting areas to reduce the possibility of ignition.
You will learn about: How firearms accidentally ignite fuels and start wildfires A fire that was ignited by shooting firearms and how it was managed How developed shooting ranges can help solve the problem of accidental ignitions by firearms How prescribed fire is being used by the USFS to prevent fires ignited by firearms
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VIDEO SHORTS//Santa Clara Canyon Post-Fire Restoration |
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These short videos were taken during the making of our most recent Southwest Fire Stories documentary film on the Restoration of Santa Clara Canyon. |
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En Espanol// Fire Ecology Learning Lab |
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Our FELL curriculum now has a Spanish language version. See the poster above for more information. Or visit our FELL portal on our website.
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GRANTS// Wildfire Mitigation Funding Database |
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The Arizona Wildfire Initiative (AZWI) aims to link Arizona communities to resources that will expand their capacity to adapt to wildfire and its impacts. To facilitate this effort, AZWI has identified possible sources of funding in this database to provide homeowners, community representatives, Tribes, and government leaders a centralized location of opportunities for funding needed to increase their capacity for wildfire preparedness.
The list of grants includes five source types:
1. Federally available funds
2. State provided funds
3. City specific grants
4. Private/NGO provided funds
5. Funds only available for Tribal governments and organizations
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Episode 3: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge into Western Fire Management with Jon Martin |
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We are partnering with Amanda Monthei of Life with Fire Podcast in a 6-episode series. In the third episode of the series, Jon Martin of Ecological Restoration Institute joins Amanda to explore integrating (or not) Indigenous perspectives of wildland fire into land management.
There is something for everyone, please listen & share! |
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FIRE WEATHER VIDEO// Atmospheric Stability |
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In the fifth video in the fire weather video series, you will learn about what influences atmospheric stability and how stability affects fire behavior and smoke. The video was created in collaboration with the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, Southwest Fire Science Consortium, Northern Arizona University School of Forestry and University of Idaho. |
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Dr. Connor Crouch will present on three threats facing quaking aspen in the Southwest – climate, pests and disease, and livestock browse – and three management objectives and strategies that can be implemented to improve aspen resilience and adaptive capacity, leaving attendees with actionable suggestions for resource management. Register here. |
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WILDLIFE AND FIRE: Panelists present real-world examples and lessons learned on the importance of effective and comprehensive communication within agencies, across functional areas, between organizations, and with members of the public to advance our understanding and improve outcomes for wildlife and habitat during instances of prescribed, intentional, and wildland fire.
Presenters: Jack Williams (Endangered Species Biologist, USFS), Dr. Joel Iverson (Professor, University of Montana), Julia Camp (District Wildlife Biologist, USFS), and Dennis Carril (Fire Management Specialist, USFS).
Watch the recording here. |
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WILDLIFE AND FIRE: Panelists present various viewpoints and examples of how landscape-scale management can be understood through investigation of a single species. View the recording for research reviews, case studies, and stories about tribal forestry, jaguars’ adaptability to changing conditions across borders, pollinator survival, bat conservation, and more to advance our understanding of fire and improve wildlife outcomes.
Watch the recording here. |
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KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGEConferences, trainings & more! |
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Whew! We are currently taking a break from organizing events after the three gatherings we hosted last fall. |
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Fire Ecology Learning Lab (FELL) TRAINING |
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HOT STUFFThe latest research & news from around the Southwest |
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RESEARCH & TOOLSClimate projections for Tribal Lands - generated by Native Climate. Visit the interactive map here.
RMRS’s Wildfire risk 101.
Know your fire risk in the WUI by FEMA.
Insurance industry explored measures of wildfire readiness in and around the wildland-urban interface (WUI) at the state and county level.
Machine Learning to understand and plan for daily firefighter workforce.
Green is the new black: Outcomes of post-fire tree planting across the US Interior West published by the Ecological Research Institute. Read the pub or the factsheet. |
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CART X SWFSC: WILDLAND FIRE CASE STUDIES
SWFSC partnered with Conservation and Adaptation Resource Toolbox (CART) as part of our SW Fire Climate Adaptation Partnership to produce a series of case studies related to wildfire.
Case Studies on Fire Management |
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TRAINING
IN PERSON Upcoming Training Opportunities assembled by Incident Management Response Roundtable Public Information Officers.
ONLINE Be Smoke Savvy: Training Guide of Best Management Practices for Prescribed Fire Smoke. Free course. Prescribed fire is one of land managers' most important tools to promote healthy ecosystems and build safer, more resilient communities. A key component of safely conducting these fires is effectively managing the smoke they produce. This two-hour online course worth two Category 1 continuing education credits will cover essential topics, including the importance of smoke management, various tactics and strategies, the appropriate use of smoke management tools, and a review of legal standards related to smoke management. Hosted by Tall Timbers Fire Science Exchange that covers the Southern U.S. Register here.
Indian Country 101 Training: Tribal engagement training for conservation practitioners in North America.
Arid and Semi-Arid Lands Seed Technology and Restoration Course.
IFTDSS for prescribed fire plans- Online Course. |
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New Mexico Tribal Fire and Forestry Summit - March 4-6 in Mescalero, NM
Society for Range Management Annual Meeting - February 9-13 in Spokane, WA
National Native Seed Conference - February 24-28, 2025 in Tucson, AZ
International Fire Ecology and Management Congress- December 2-9, 2025 in New Orleans, LA - SAVE the DATE |
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NEED SUPPORT?We provide outreach, knowledge exchange products, travel grants, letters of support, and organizational support for fire-related events in the Southwest. |
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The Southwest Fire Science Consortium is a JFSP Fire Science Exchange Network Funding also provided by Arizona Wildfire Initiative at NAU School of Forestry |
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