Fire Effects & Ecology Annual Report: Barrens to Bayous Fire Effects Monitoring Network, 2012

Author unknown

A summary of fire ecology activities and program information for the Park/network including fire effects plot workload, staffing, management objectives and monitoring results, and planning, fire monitoring, communications, and research. Also included are staff accomplishments/areas of focus, future program direction and other optional information (e.g. data analysis graphics or presentations, annual highlights, publications, program challenges, unique solutions to problems, collaboration, photographs of monitoring/fire activities, and suggestions on FFI). All-hazard incidents, amplified wildfire activity, and the hiring of our vacant fire effects position were the highlights of 2012. All members of the network were dispatched to both out of state wildfire and all-hazard incidents. Crewmembers were present at the Hurricane Sandy response as either sawyers or resource advisors. Two crewmembers also spent several pay-periods at Gulf Islands National Seashore assisting the recovery efforts after the MS Canyon Oil Spill as resource advisors and/or documentation unit leaders. During a busy prescribed fire season, the crew provided assistance in the following positions: FEMO, ATVO, FFT1, FFT2, and FALA on over 40 prescribed fires throughout the southeast region. Six of the NPS units within the monitoring network had prescribed fires in 2012. Thirty eight FMH post-burn reads were conducted following NPS prescribed fires. Interagency cooperation was provided to Holly Springs National Forest, Tombigbee National Forest, Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, and Tishomingo State Park. Roles served on suppression incidents included: FFT2, FFT1(T), ICT5(T), FALA, HECM, and ABRO in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Arkansas, Oregon, Oklahoma, and Virginia. Everyone spent time assisting with local wildfire response. This was important this summer, as the fire activity was elevated outside the typical fire season of this part of the region. Jesse burton spent a 21-day detail with the GRSM Wildland Fire Module as a squad boss trainee. Jennifer Falkey went on a 29-day assignment on the Ocala National Forest as an engine crewmember and ICT5 trainee. In addition to serving in multiple roles on all-hazard, wildfire, and prescribed fire events, the crew was still able to monitor 99 fire effects plots and enter 100% of the year’s data in 2012.

Fire Effects & Ecology Annual Report: Barrens to Bayous Fire Effects Monitoring Network, 2012

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