New Hampshire Establishes a Prescribed Fire Council
New Hampshire has become the first state in New England and the 24th state nationwide to establish a state prescribed fire council.
Prescribed fire or prescribed burns are a management tool used by trained natural resource professionals. These fires are intentionally set to meet specific management goals under predetermined weather conditions.
Prescribed fire can provide agricultural and ecological benefits as well as benefits to public safety when used appropriately. Some examples include increasing low bush blueberry fruit production, reducing the amount of woody debris in populated fire prone areas before wildfires occur, and promoting rare New Hampshire plant and animal assemblages that require fire to persist. Safeguards are put in place to minimize impact to the public and the firefighters participating in the burns.
The New Hampshire Prescribed Fire Council is an affiliation of agencies, organizations, and groups working together to:
- promote public understanding of the benefits of prescribed fire
- promote the development and utilization of prescribed fire practices to achieve desired environmental and ecological resource management goals
- anticipate prescribed fire issues and concerns and suggesting courses of action
- provide a framework for communication and cooperation related to prescribed fire objectives, techniques and issues
- disseminate technical information and training on prescribed fire and its application
- promote the long-term viability of prescribed fire as a management tool in New Hampshire
Bryan Nowell, New Hampshire Division of Forests and Lands Forest Ranger Captain, who currently chairs the council says: "There are a multitude of benefits this council can provide for both the public and participating members – from increasing public and firefighter safety to highlighting examples of fire being used to conserve rare species and natural communities.”
Representation on the council includes individuals from the White Mountain National Forest, NH Army National Guard, NH Department of Environmental Services, NH Division of Forests and Lands, NH Fire Academy, NH Fish and Game Department, a NH local fire department, North Country Council, The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, The Nature Conservancy, University of New Hampshire, University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, and the US Air Force.
More information on the New Hampshire Prescribed Fire Council is available at www.nhprescribedfire.org.
posted June 2, 2010 by Kristina A. Ferrare
