Connect Extension Virtual Chat: Prescribed Fire Education & Training

Click here at 11 AM ET on 10/29 to Join the Virtual Chat!

Devastating wildfires are a growing threat in the West and across the Nation, jeopardizing the health, safety and vitality of communities and people. Prescribed burning is an accepted land management tool utilized to meet landscape health objectives. Building [certified] prescribed fire education, with emphasis on training, will provide opportunity for advancement of skills to private, non-industrial and industrial landowners and public land/fire managers necessary for the safe and proper utilization of prescribed fire on the landscape.

In this chat we’ll explore state mandates on prescribed fire certification, liability, prescribed fire insurance, and workforce.

Carrier Berger is the Fire Program Manager to the new Forestry & Natural Resources Extension Fire Program at Oregon State University. As manager, Carrie guides the fire team towards accomplishing the goals and objectives of the program put forth to the State legislation in 2019 including: 1) identifying landscapes in highest need of a strategic focus of resources to reduce wildfire and landscape health risks at a statewide scale; 2) assisting with the implementation of projects on the ground in priority landscapes; and 3) providing education and outreach throughout the process for all Oregonians. Prior to this position, Carrie was the coordinator for the Northwest Fire Science Consortium. The NWFSC is one of 15 fire science exchange networks tasked to accelerate the awareness, understanding, and adoption of wildland fire science.  Carrie has over twenty years of forestry related experience and has been in her Extension role for six years. She earned her M.S. degree from the University of Minnesota in forest science and a B.S. degree in forestry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Daniel Leavell worked in various locations throughout the NW and Rocky Mtns as a forester, silviculturist, botanist, firefighter, fire and emergency incident manager, and forest/fire ecologist – for the Forest Service, States, and various academic institutions (1973 to 2010). Private consultant in forestry and ecology (2010 to 2014). Volunteered as a Fire Chief for a NW Montana structure fire dept (2006 to 2012). Assistant Professor of Practice and Forest/Fire Extension Agent for Oregon State University, College of Forestry Extension in Klamath and Lake County, Oregon (2014 to 2020). Volunteered as a firefighter/EMT for a county fire dept. in Klamath Falls (2015 to 2018). Interim Director of the Public Safety Training Center for Klamath Community College (2014 -2016). Associate Professor of Practice and State Extension Fire Specialist (2020 to present). Earned BS and MS in Forestry/Forest Science at Oregon State University (1977 and 1992 respectively) and a PhD from University of Montana in landscape, community, and disturbance ecology (2000).