Fire has been a land management tool since time immemorial. Before fire suppression policies, fire was a consistent and natural disturbance in California ecosystems, whether ignited naturally or by native communities stewarding the land. Many of our ecosystems need fire to maintain their natural plant and wildlife communities. California native species, both plants and animals, are adapted to fire and many rely on it to successfully play their role in an ecosystem.
With fire suppression policies enacted as early as 1793 in California, landscapes across the state have become increasingly less resilient to fire due to overgrown vegetation and changes in species composition- what lives where. Organizations, tribes, agencies, and communities are now working towards bringing more ‘good fire’ back to California landscapes to restore healthier ecosystems.
Prescribed fire, or the use of fire under certain conditions to achieve specific outcomes, is a cost-effective land management tool. Some of these outcomes may include enhancing wildlife habitat, encouraging native plant growth, and creating a landscape more resistant to fire. Prescribed Burn Associations, or PBAs, are community-based groups consisting of land managers, community members, cultural burn practitioners, non-profit organizations, and fire professionals. Although PBAs look different from community to community, their members share the common goal of exchanging knowledge, skills, equipment, and resources to conduct prescribed burning that is ecologically minded and safe.
With funding from CalFire, California Department of Conservation, and County of Napa, Napa RCD has been working with the University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) to support the development of a Napa County PBA (NCPBA) by hosting a series of community meetings throughout the county. Participants learned more about what a PBA is and the next steps for getting a PBA off the ground in Napa County. These meetings were a space for folks to talk through questions and concerns and get to know one another. The last of the community meetings was held on August 30th at the Pope Valley Farm Center, where attendees participated in thoughtful discussions around prescribed burning logistics, individual and collective goals for burning, and visions for a local PBA. The questions and discussions coming out of the series of community meetings will help shape the future direction of the NCPBA.
As the UCCE and Napa RCD team moves the effort forward, those on the NCPBA email list can expect to hear more about upcoming educational opportunities related to prescribed burning and the formation of a NCPBA Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will consist of a group of local community members with a variety of skills and expertise to make informed decisions to support the development and functions of the NCPBA. As the NCPBA continues to form into the most appropriate and useful model for Napa County, we encourage community input and feedback. If you are not already on the Napa County PBA email list, please reach out to Danielle@NapaRCD.org or fill out this form.
Want to learn more about prescribed burn associations? Check out these resources: