Feather River College and agency partners plan prescribed fire training

Nineteen professionals from multiple fire agencies met at Feather River College to plan prescribed fire training in Northern California and the Plumas County region.  Building upon the newly approved Feather River College bachelor’s degree in Ecosystem Restoration and Applied Fire Management, leaders from several local, state, and federal agencies met to plan an approach for prescribed fire training based upon existing partnerships, available resources, training needs, and potential opportunities.

The ultimate goal is to coordinate training and develop joint opportunities as  prescribed fire management develops as a widely used strategy in the prevention of future catastrophic wildfires.  Involvement from FRC serves as a nexus for training and engagement with the bachelor’s degree when the first cohort of students begins in the Fall 2024 semester.

Led by Lenya Quinn-Davidson, director of University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Fire Network, FRC faculty met with leaders from Plumas National Forest, Cal Fire, Watershed Resource Training Center, Plumas Fire Safe Council, Chico State University Ecological Reserve, other agencies, and local California certified burn bosses.  The goal was to develop collaborative training strategies and professional standards for the four major entities involved with prescribed fire: federal, state, private, and indigenous groups.

Using a hub-and-spoke analogy, centralized training objectives require further development while spokes will distribute professional training across Northern California involving the various agencies mentioned above.  Attendees specified that the need for a central, large physical training center may not be the best approach.  The hub and spokes are not necessarily physical locations, rather they are knowledge and trainings that can be dispersed for the largest impact on developing a trained workforce dedicated to safe, professional prescribed fires as a prevention tool and forest health model.

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Quinn-Davidson stated that several excellent training models exist such as Training Exchange Programs (TREX) programs, Cal Fire training, National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG), and US Forest Service continuing education.  While there will certainly be overlap between these trainings, the goal is to incorporate partnerships to decentralize professional training and certification, ranging from professionals in the fire suppression field, to local and state agencies, and private land owners that hold burn boss certification.

The new FRC bachelor’s degree in Ecosystem Restoration and Applied Fire Management has several outcomes including: safely planning for and using prescribed fire as restoration and management tool; earning federal and state burn boss and certifications for various skills related to wildland fire; planning and executing effective reforestation work as well as forest and fuels management; and planning and executing effective riparian restoration work.  These goals match with the training needs described by federal agencies, state resources, local communities, and including private enterprises.  Serving the high Sierra ecosystem, the unique FRC degree is not available anywhere in California, connecting indigenous management techniques, ecosystem restoration, and professional standards specifically to the Sierra Nevada environment.

Dr. Kevin Trutna, Feather River College Superintendent/President said, “Bringing together this many diverse partners on campus shows the immediate need for trained individuals across all of California and the importance of training professionals in utilizing prescribed fire as a forest management tool.”  FRC will continue to partner with private individuals, state, federal, local and indigenous communities to finalize the curriculum for the bachelor’s degree.  “Everyone in attendance agreed that the future of the Sierra Nevada relies upon all agencies and educational institutions putting every effort forward to prevent future catastrophic destruction and restore watersheds from recent megafires,” added Dr. Trutna.

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