Eastern Fire Portal

With multiple agencies/entities, groups and task forces all working to find solutions for operational concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, the need for a space to share information is apparent. This forum serves as a platform to ask questions, as well as to share ideas, information, and solutions.

Please refer to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group's website regarding infectious disease guidance for wildland fire incidents, Emergency Medical Committee.

Responsibilities:

• Coordination with fire management and outreach programs to design a National Outreach Strategy.
• Coordination with Service visitor services and other fire outreach staffs, conduct a national media relations campaign to profile fire management "success stories." Conceives, develops, implements and evaluates public affairs and outreach strategies designed to meet internal and external needs for information on the Service Fire Management Program.
• Establish a public affairs program to educate the public about the Service fire management program.
• Develop and distribute strategic briefing packages for Congress, Department, and the Office of Wildland Fire on key fire management action areas.
• Raise visibility of the program within the Service by increasing internal communications about fire management activities.
• Gather information and produce information materials concerning policies, programs and activities for dissemination.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are now calling for research proposals in support of improved disaster resilience.

Natural hazards such as earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes and fires cause tremendous damage to communities across the U.S. every year. While these events cannot be prevented completely, their impacts can be dampened by disaster resilience measures such as policies, designs, codes and standards.

NIST and NSF plan to award a total of $3.1 million for scientific and engineering research into disaster-related phenomena that can significantly improve our nation’s defenses against natural hazards. The agencies will co-manage the Disaster Resilience Research Grants (DRRG) program and intend to make 8-12 awards of up to $400,000 each.

To apply, submit your letter of intent by Aug. 14, 2020. The deadline for full proposals is Sept. 15, 2020. NSF and NIST will host an informational webcast on Aug. 3, 2020.

The AmeriCorps Forest Restoration Assistant will work with Conservation staff in teams to ensure the coordination, community support and implementation of preserve/forest management plans. Essential functions include:

• Collect forest measurement data and apply basic data summary and analysis methods to report on findings, with training and direction from supervisor.
• Assist supervisor in marking legacy trees, designating patch reserves, characterizing canopy gaps and planting seedlings for a late-successional forest management project. 
• Identify, map, and remove invasive species at restoration sites.
• Use GIS and mobile map apps to map monitoring and treatment sites.
• Assist supervisor during drone missions conducted as part of restoration projects by establishing ground control points.
• Maintain a geodatabase with spatial data and conduct basic image processing/analysis with training and direction from supervisor.
• Work with a burn team to implement prescribed burn and participate in prescribed burning after meeting the following requirements:
• Receive certificate and training in prescribed burns
• Pass physical Pack-test for s130/190 certification
• Receive CPR/First Aide Training
• May organize volunteer events, engage local participants to treat invasive species, remove fencing, plant native plants, etc.  
• Improve coordination among stakeholders and partners working on controlled burning, forest restoration, and invasive plant control
• Communicate conservation efforts being implemented such as forest restoration, controlled fire, and invasive plant control to stakeholders, partners, and the general public

A postdoctoral researcher is being sought to lead an effort to analyze the governance network around management of western fire-prone forests under climate change for the benefit of ecosystems and human communities. This position is part of new a multi-disciplinary working group that aims to improve scientific understanding of western forests as social-ecological systems (SES) undergoing change and develop strategies for managing forests to mitigate risk and improve ecosystem health and socio-economic well-being. The postdoctoral researcher will inventory, classify, and map, as part of a network, the key public and private actors concerned with fire-prone forests in the Rocky Mountain region. The work will involve primary data collection about actors’ goals, strategies, and interactions; quantitative descriptive and inferential network analysis; and writing scholarly manuscripts and grant proposals.