The southeastern United States consistently experiences more wildfires per year than any other region. More than 100 million acres of land have a moderate to extreme potential for wildfire. The issue is not if an area will burn but when, and at what intensity.
Landowners
Learn how to better protect your property with the Wildfire Retrofit Guide for the Southeast, with fire prevention and safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association and information about how to “make your home and neighborhood safer from wildfire” from Firewise Communities.
See more surviving wildfire articles and wildfire information at eXtension.org.
For Extension and Educators
Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network promotes learning both from and by practitioners and professionals, fostering the spread of best practices and emerging concepts.
The Southern Fire Portal for resource managers, decision makers, scientists from the FRAMES network provides resources for exchange of information and technology within the wildland fire research and management community.
Many state resources exist, like those from Texas for Preparing for Wildfires and Wildfires and Disasters with information about fire danger, help after a fire, materials about fire response and other programs.
For Community Fire Fighters and Leaders
See what resources exist through the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) for fire planning and operations and the Wildland Fire Prevention and Education Teams; the Southern Fire Exchange (SFE) a regional program for fire science funded by The Joint Fire Science Program. The joint program funds scientific research on wildland fires, and distributes results to help policymakers, fire managers, and practitioners make sound decisions. See the program’s The Fire Science Exchange Network to get connected with other managers, practitioners and scientists working in your area. The SFE Resource Center consolidates fire information and provides ways for the fire community to interact and learn from one another; and FireAdapted.org resources to support your role in local wildfire issues.
Learn more at the website Wildland fire in the South and see ideas about how to reduce your risk and contribute to the greater strategy addressing wildland fire across the region.
Prepared by Sarah Workman, USDA Forest Service SRS-EFETAC and Southern Regional Extension Forestry