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Controlled burns—also called prescribed fire—play a vital role in creating healthy landscapes that better survive natural and human-caused disturbances, while reducing wildfire risk to communities, infrastructure, natural and cultural resources. Episode 3 of "Afire" highlights three scientists and partnerships that are attempting to better understand and utilize prescribed fire.

From Georgia, ecologist Joe O’Brien explains how researchers and forest managers are forming unique meetings that spark fresh ideas and advancements in prescribed burning across the South. In California, forester David Weise begins research into the processes related to pyrolysis to better estimate how prescribed burning affects people. And, in Arkansas, forestry technician Virginia McDaniel recounts a decades-long story of prescribed fire fortifying an ecosystem and an endangered woodpecker.

This media record is part of a series:

Forestcast

What started as a podcast produced by the Northern Research Station focusing on forest research within the Northeast and Midwest has now expanded to cover a wide range of topics from across the USDA Forest Service Research and Development branch. In each episode you'll hear stories, interviews, and special in-depth anthologies of the research that is studying, questioning, and solving some of today's most compelling issues. Visit the Forestcast website.

Media Record Details

Apr 24, 2024
Joe O'Brien, David R. Weise, Virginia McDaniel

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Fire Effects
Birds of Prey
Prescribed Fire-use treatments

NRFSN number: 26497
Record updated: