Fire Management Program

Local Beneficial Fire

Wielding Fire to

Manage Landscapes

The backbone of our prescribed fire program is the inclusive learning environment created through our cooperative burning. We host hands-on trainings and cooperative burns to deepen our understanding of land management with the use of long-term prescribed fire application.

Attend one of our burns and learn through participating. We believe “fire is for everyone”, and that you can serve a role in bringing good fire back to the landscape, regardless of ability or experience.

Do you want to manage your land with fire? Email Ellen and Qwalen at fireoperations@thewatershedcenter.com to learn more. There are also opportunities with our Forestry and Fuels Program on initial fuels reduction if your land needs extra help before implementing a beneficial burn.

The Trinity Integrated Fire Management Partnership

The Watershed Center leads the Trinity Integrated Fire Management Partnership (TIFMP), a cooperative and cross-boundary, multi-partner effort to reduce hazardous fuels and improve forest health and wildlife habitat by building the local capacity to plan and implement cooperative beneficial fire throughout Trinity County, California. Our partners include Trinity County Resource Conservation District, Hayfork Fire Department, Hyampom Fire Department, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Shasta-Trinity National Forest, CAL FIRE, and volunteers from the community.

What We Do

Prescribed Burning

We conduct pile and broadcast burns on private and public lands to reduce fuels, increase community safety, empower local stewards, and improve ecological function in this fire-dependent ecosystem.
Support PBA Development

We support the development of local Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs), which consist of community members helping each other manage the land with fire, by providing training and mentorship through workshops and other events.
Provide NWCG Level Training

Each year we host a multi-day Basic 32 class and the annual RT-130 refresher—two National Wildfire Coordinating Group trainings legally required for technicians to work on public lands. These trainings provide a means to obtaining and retaining red cards.
Host and Support TREX Events

We host Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges locally and support regional and global TREX events by providing prescribed fire training personnel. These TREX events establish safe and inclusive learning environments for fire practitioners from all walks of life.
Draft and Implement Burn Plans

All burning requires permitting from the Air Resources Control Board, CAL FIRE, and other applicable entities. The Fire Management Team drafts, revises, updates, and implements burn plans for private landowners who wish to manage their land with fire.