Statewide Fire Management
Video by Chad Manley and Thena Tak
We train and coach fire practitioners across California, hosting and staffing Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges, managing wildland fire qualifications for non-agency personnel, running hands-on immersive courses in English and Spanish, and supporting Tribes, Prescribed Burn Associations and other community organizations as they build their own burn programs
What We Do
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![Firefighters wearing protective gear and helmets are extinguishing a small grass fire with a fire extinguisher outdoors on a dry, grassy field.]()
Prescribed Burning
We conduct pile and broadcast burns on private and public lands to improve ecological function, train workforces throughout the state, increase community safety, empower local stewards, and reduce fuels across California’s fire-adapted and fire-dependent ecosystems. Photo: Chad Manley and Thena Tak.
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![Group of four people working to put out a forest fire, walking through a smoke-filled forest with flames on the ground, carrying firefighting tools and equipment.]()
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.
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![Group of fire students digging handline during training.]()
Provide NWCG Level Training
Each year we host a variety of National Wildfire Coordinating Group trainings as needed. These trainings provide a means to obtaining and retaining nationally recognized wildland firefighter qualifications, helps practitioners meet the California State Certified Burn Boss prerequisites, and allows workforces across California to support burn operations on public lands throughout the state. Photo: Heather Murphy.
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![A group of people gathers outdoors in front of a blue water tender, some standing, some kneeling. A scenic background of mountains and trees on a sunny day fills the background of the image.]()
Host and Support TREX Events
We host and support Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges (TREXs) throughout California. TREX events address one of the most fundamental ways to shift fire culture: giving more people the opportunity to work with fire by investing in prescribed fire partnerships and leadership development and through experiential training events.
Beneficial Fire Work
Did you know that the Watershed Center has a team of fire practitioners dedicated to increasing the use of beneficial fire across the State of California through training, coaching, and mentoring?
Andrea Bustos and José Duce Aragüés are our Prescribed Fire Training Specialists. They travel all over the state working with community groups to scale up the use of good fire.
Ryan Bauer is our Statewide Beneficial Fire Training Officer. He is responsible for administering a fire qualifications management system to support an All Hands, All Lands approach to expanding the use of beneficial fire throughout the state.
Hannah Hepner is our Northern Sierra Beneficial Fire Training Coordinator. She provides access to training and supports inclusive burn opportunities in 8 counties in northeastern California.
Our team hosts hands-on beneficial fire trainings, supports our partners during burns with leadership and mentorship, and travels the State with two Type 6 demonstration fire engines.