National Fire Plan Success Story
North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council
North Carolina Division of Forest Resources
National Fire Plan - Fuels Reduction
2006
The North Carolina Division of Forest Resources successfully took the lead to establish an interagency Prescribed Fire Council in 2006. As a result, an eight-member steering committee was created. This committee established the goal to bring together natural resource professionals, public and private land managers and others who support the use of prescribed fire into an organization to:
- Promote public education about the benefits of prescribed fire.
- Advocate for the ability to use prescribed fire as a land management tool now and in the future.
- Increase expertise in prescribed fire by sharing technical and biological information.
- Promote safety, training, and research in the art and science of prescribed fire.
- Review prescribed fire practices, regulations, and policies and suggest improvements.
- Promote best management practices that minimize smoke and air quality impacts from prescribed fires.
The mission of the North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council is to foster cooperation among all parties in North Carolina with an interest or stake in prescribed fire to optimize burning opportunities for the benefit of natural ecosystems and wildlife and to reduce the risk of damage from wildfires. This will be accomplished by encouraging the exchange of information, techniques and experiences among practitioners of prescribed fire in North Carolina. And promote public understanding of the regional importance and benefits of prescribed fire.
Council members shall be representatives of any agency, organization, corporation, institution, or private ownership with an interest in prescribed fire and goals consistent with the council's mission. The council has been successful in promoting prescribed fire and increasing cooperation to maximize prescribed fire across the state.
Contact: Shardul Raval, North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, 919-857-4850, shardul.raval@ncmail.net.