Northern Rockies Fire 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

The special issue titled “Effects of Wildfire on Biodiversity” in the journal Fire is open for submissions through October 31.

The goal of this special issue is to compile a set of scientific articles describing how wildfire has impacted diversity in the ecosystem where they occurred. The journal invites articles that present measured or modeled effects of wildfire on diversity across various scales and dimensions of fire regime metrics and biological taxa, including but not limited to:

• Effects of wildfire on diversity of any taxa in any ecosystem
• Relationships between fire effects and abiotic factors such as climate
• Predictions of changes in fire effects as a result of a changing climate
• Effects of scale in the interpretation of fire effects on biodiversity
• Consequences of larger burned area for the composition of communities and landscapes
• Consequences of wildfire on biogeochemistry, such as the global carbon cycle

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.

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.