Prescribed fire and wildfire prevention conference set for Sept. 28 in Decatur
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Wise County Office of Emergency Management host educational event
The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Wise County Office of Emergency Management will host “Sparks of Knowledge,” a free conference dedicated to introducing participants to the role of prescribed fire in land management and wildfire prevention on Sept. 28.
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Decatur Conference Center, 2010 U.S. Highway 380, Decatur. Participants are asked to register at https://tx.ag/Sparks or by contacting Alayna Payne, Wise County Office of Emergency Management mitigation and recovery coordinator, at 940-627-5870.
About the fire conference
The event will explore effective and reliable strategies to live with and utilize fire in areas of wildland-urban interface, said Morgan Treadwell, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension range specialist and associate professor in the Texas A&M College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, San Angelo.
According to the Texas A&M Forest Service, the wildland-urban interface is the zone where developed areas, such as cities and neighborhoods, intermingle with undeveloped areas such as rangelands and forests.
“Landowners — especially many new ones moving to Wise County — need to understand the importance of reducing fuel loads on their property to avoid a wildfire event,” said Marty Morgan, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resource agent in Wise County. “Prescribed fires, also known as controlled burns, are a wise management tool to not only improve the health of your land but reduce the negative impact of a wildfire should one occur.”
Resources and materials covered
Through seminars, exhibits and panel discussions led by state and non-profit agencies, participants will learn about the many technical and financial assistance programs available to support landowners in implementing prescribed fires.
Additionally, attendees will learn about the ecological role of prescribed fire on rangelands, how to become involved in a Prescribed Burn Association, and general prescribed burn laws and regulations.
“Prescribed Burn Associations empower and equip landowners with the knowledge to manage volatile fuel accumulations that can exasperate wildfire intensity and behavior,” Treadwell said. “This event is a great opportunity to become familiar with key partners leading fire management in Wise County.”
