Fuels Portal

The interagency Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) are now open through 5 pm MDT, October 14, 2021.

The Graduate Research Innovation (GRIN) announcement (FA-FOA0022-001) has one task statement. Proposals must address one or more of the following topic areas:

• Fuels management and fire behavior
• Changing fire environment
• Emissions and air quality
• Fire effects and post-fire recovery
• Relative impacts of prescribed fire versus wildfire
• Human dimensions of fire

The primary announcement (FA-FOA0022-002) has two task statements:

1. Social and ecological recovery of communities impacted by wildfire
2. Collaborative development of ecosystem mapping products for fire and fuels management

The Regional Fire Science Exchange announcement (FA-FOA0022-003) has one task statement focused on leading and executing a regional fire science exchange in the following six regions (see map and supporting information in the FOA):

1. Southern
2. Southern Rockies
3. Southwest
4. Appalachians
5. Great Plains
6. North Atlantic

This position serves as a Wildland & Prescribed Fire Program Analyst & CSU Liaison for the U.S. Air Force (USAF) Wildland Fire Brach (AFWFB) based at Joint Base San Antonio, TX. The primary purpose of this position is to support the operation of the AFWB by providing program management and technical expertise in support of the U.S. Air Force Civil Engineer Center
(AFCEC) strategic vision.

The Air Force Wildland Fire Branch (AFWFB) provides expertise, oversight, and guidance to manage wildland fire risk and sustain the Air Force mission at installations nationwide. The AFWFB also preserves and enhances the installations’ natural resources. The AFWFB specializes in the following core functions: Fire Planning and Risk Mitigation, Training and Certification, Fire Operations Support, and Fire Reporting and Analysis.

The incumbent will plan, develop, and implement AFWFB strategic goals (within constraints of the CEMML task order) across CONUS and Alaska in accordance with Air Force strategic guidance from AFCEC.  Collaborate with senior USAF leadership to analyze and recommend conceptual solutions to meet facility, personnel, and equipment requirements for AFWFB.  Provide technical and strategic support in the programming of AFWFB requirements.  Provide analyses and advice on potential courses of action to achieve strategic vision of Air Force senior leaders.  Provide technical and strategic support in the programming of AFWFB requirements.  Develop and deliver communication to wildland fire program stakeholders, installations, and agency partners of AFWFB concept of operations.  Support briefing and reports for AFCEC senior leaders.  Serves as CSU liaison on site at AFCEC for CSU and the AFWFB.

To ensure full consideration, applications must be received by 11:59pm (MT) on 10/11/2021

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with Sequoia National Forest, Hume Lake Ranger District (Dunlap, CA), is recruiting a Fuels Resource Assistant (RA) to perform a variety of Fuels related tasks and support various aspects of NEPA completed Fuels projects. RA duties and projects will be focused on completing burn plans, and strategically planning for the implementation of four (4) District Fuels projects that will use a combination GBI and other Fuels crews. Additional RA duties include providing analysis for projects that still need to have National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis completed, as well as identifying out-year fuels projects (maps, initial purpose and need/proposed action statements) to put on 5-year Program of Work (POW) & NEPA schedules. The RA will have the opportunity to collaborate with both personnel from the Hume Lake Ranger District Office and the Forest Supervisor’s office to coordinate these projects.

This position is supported through the Forest Service’s Resource Assistants Program (RAP). RAP participants who successful complete their appointment will receive a Direct Hire Authority (DHA) certificate. The DHA certificate allows the individual to be appointed into a permanent Forest Service position, ideally related to the focus of their RAP appointment and with the Forest that hosted the participant.

The Forest Conservation Program Manager leads and envisions South Yuba River Citizens League's (SYRCL) forest conservation work throughout the Yuba River watershed. SYRCL's forest health work accelerated beginning in 2019 and continues to grow considerably. The program aims to 1) improve forest health and forest resiliency throughout the watershed 2) engage diverse stakeholders throughout the Yuba River watershed to promote and implement forest health projects, 3) partner with local educational institutions for workforce development opportunities and 4) raise funds to continue collaborative planning efforts and on-the-ground project implementation.

Responsibilities include engaging in project planning, including selection of treatment types (prescribed fire, mechanical thinning, hand thinning, non-commercial and pre-commercial thinning, etc.) and intensity.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. This position is open until filled.

The Senior Ecologist will lead the Sonoma Land Trust's (SLT) important work addressing the challenges of climate change in Sonoma Valley and throughout the county. They will lead SLT's work on nature-based solutions that bolster the resilience of our natural and human communities, focusing on wildfires, wildlife corridors and natural lands management.

The successful candidate will drive key conservation strategy decisions using the latest science, as well as identifying areas of future applied science research that SLT will need to advance biodiversity and climate resilience in Sonoma County. Over time, the position will be central to growing SLT's ecological science resources and staffing, and leading the development and implementation of science and nature-based solutions for the protection and enhancement of essential ecosystem functioning in Sonoma County.

WRA Landscape Restoration is a licensed contracting business specializing in eco-friendly sustainable landscaping, ecological restoration, and wildland management solutions throughout California’s unique array of native vegetation communities. The team is based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

They are seeking Restoration Technicians to fulfill our Restoration Program initiatives which are centered around the restoration, stewardship, and enhancement of natural landscapes and habitats. These will primarily be field based positions, performing ecological restoration services including native plant out-planting, site maintenance and irrigation, invasive plant mapping and control, stream bank stabilization, erosion control, and fire fuel management. Additional activities may include data collection for reports and field research, documenting and mapping distributions of native resources and invasive populations for project sites, and occasional tool and vehicle maintenance.

The position will be located at the Hill Farm Research Station, Homer, Louisiana, and has approximately 300 acres of experimental forest, primarily of loblolly pine and upland hardwoods, to support the research program. The incumbent will have a partial appointment with the LSU School of Plant, Environmental, and Soil Sciences at LSU main campus in Baton Rouge. An opportunity to mentor graduate students and participate in graduate education (M.S. and Ph.D.) will be provided.

Position Description:

Research: Design and implement an innovative, comprehensive research program that addresses the effectiveness and sustainability forest resource stewardship practices, including but not limited to forest establishment, intermediate forest stand improvement, and harvesting practices.

Extension: Inform extension personnel of new discoveries in forest management and coordinate the dissemination of this information to forestry professionals of Louisiana and other states in the Western Gulf region. Disseminate research-based forest management innovations to university, federal, state, industry and private forestry professionals of the Western Gulf region through publications, workshops, conferences, presentations, field demonstrations, and Internet-based materials. Develop workshops and webinars that convey research-based forest management suggestions to forestry professionals of the Western Gulf region.

The Ember Alliance is hiring for a key leadership position in Colorado! The Assistant Fire Management Officer position will provide key operational support for day-to-day fire management activities of the Ember Alliance’s Fire Operations program. This position supports planning, developing, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating an integrated fire management program that supports our mission, vision, and values. The position has both field and office responsibilities, including but not limited to project planning and implementation, leadership roles on prescribed fires and wildfires, collaborative burn coordination, and young adult mentorship. Candidates should have a passion for increasing the pace and scale of prescribed fire, increasing diversity and inclusion in the fire practitioner community, and creating operational excellence.

The successful candidate will have strong experience in conducting wildland fire training events (with a particular focus on 100-200-level courses and saw training), extensive prescribed fire and wildland fire experience, strong communication skills, and a clear commitment to working with diverse populations. They will work under direction of the Assistant Director of Training to:

• Assist with implementation of training events for TEA, partner organizations (state, federal, non-profit, youth corps, Department of Defense lands, etc.)
• Implement blended curriculum including virtually (instructor led online) and experientially (hands-on)
• Teach ‘non-traditional’ soft skills during NWCG courses (e.g. self-care/stress management, conflict resolution, anti-bullying, active bystander, etc.)
• Train underserved and underrepresented populations (POC, women, landowners, Department of Defense, etc.)
• Build skills and confidence for fire practitioners from all backgrounds and experience levels in an inclusive and supportive learning environment
• Manage work assignments with minimal direction from supervisors
• May oversee staff, volunteers, and individuals or crews from other agencies or organizations when serving in a leadership role during training
• Occasionally engage in prescribed fire operations and/or support a prescribed fire IMT during Training Events
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic, including a commitment to principles of Duty, Integrity and Respect. Actively participate in creating a kind, safe and healthy work environment which encourages the diversity, equity and inclusion of all people.

The successful candidate will have strong organization skills, planning document generation experience, entrepreneurial attitude and aptitude, and a desire to support ecological forestry and fire practices in Colorado. This position is not a primary fire position. Previous wildland fire operational experience is not required, but a desire to participate in prescribed fire is supported. They will:

• Manage, support, and/or lead planning document generation, including community wildfire protection plans, research products, other similar projects.
• Work with partners to identify new opportunities for engagement.
• Manage work assignments with minimal direction from supervisors.
• Provide project management and planning support for other Ember Alliance projects, including Ember Alliance Fire Operations activities.
• Coordinate with project partners to ensure planning and personnel needs are met.
• As needed and desired, may support Ember Alliance prescribed fire and wildfire operations.
• May represent the Ember Alliance at local and regional meetings.
• May work in variable weather conditions, in remote locations, and on difficult or hazardous terrain and / or in other physically demanding environments.

Native Resource Preservation LLC is looking to fill multiple positions for our Twin Cities location who will assist with ecological restoration projects throughout Minnesota.

Hired individual(s) will work alongside a crew conducting prairie and forest restoration tasks such as priority species selection, prescribed fire, brush removal, invasive species identification and removal, vegetation surveys, timber stand inventory etc.

Open Until Filled

Dr. Katherine Lee is seeking Master of Science candidates with interest in a 2-year funded graduate research assistant position. This position and related research are in collaboration with Drs. Tim Prather and Eva Strand, and supported by the Joint Fire Science Program.

The student will assist in developing a catalog of potential economic impacts of fires and fuel breaks to sagebrush steppe user groups, including livestock producers, land managers, and recreationists. Using this catalog, a strategy for identifying and collecting the data necessary to quantify these impacts in our study area. The impacts are expected to include direct fire suppression costs, loss of forage value, reduction in quality of recreational sites, costs of evacuations and interruptions of economic activities, etc. The student could assist with the development of a survey instrument that will be used to measure stakeholder perceptions of the trade-offs involved in different wildfire management approaches. There is also an opportunity for the student to be employed as a project research technician during the summer 2021 field season.

This position is located with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Superintendent, Fort Apache Agency in Whiteriver, Arizona. The incumbent will plan, develop, implement, coordinate, and evaluate an integrated wildland fire management program to achieve resource management objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in coordinating and directing the application of standards, methods, and guidelines for all fire and aviation management program elements.
• Analyze current fire management plans and make recommendations to meet changing conditions within the limits of current or anticipated funding.
• Provide oversight, coordinate, and initiate all fire management activities based on firefighter and public safety, cost effectiveness, and values to be protected consistent with resource objectives.
• Brief internal and external managers on issues related to wildland fire, prescribed fire, and fire program activities; and develop and coordinate plans of action with interagency cooperators.
• Conduct field reconnaissance of proposed prescribed burn units.
• Prepare and implement prescribed burn plans to meet management objectives, and performs post-burn evaluation and completes documentation.