Research Briefs Look here for plain language summaries of Appalachian Fire Science. Have a suggestion for an article or topic you'd like us to summarize? Contact us! Direct and indirect effects of fire on germination of shortleaf pine seeds Hope Fillingim, Benjamin Knapp, John Kabrick, Michael Stambaugh, Grant Elliott, and Dan Dey Brief PDF Full Article Similar Articles Burning for Oak Regeneration: A Fire-free Period after Repeated Burns Promotes the Development of Oak Saplings, but Red Maple Competition Persists Beth Blankenship, Zachary Poynter, and Mary Arthur Brief PDF Full Article Similar Articles Spiders’ Response to Fire and Fire Surrogate Treatments in the Southern Appalachians Campbell, J.W., Grodsky, S.M., Milne, M.A., Vigueira, P., Vigueira, C.C., Stern, E. and Greenberg, C.H. Brief PDF Full Article Similar Articles Early Growing-Season Prescribed Fires Shown to Burn More Completely and at Greater Intensity than Dormant Season-Burns Matthew Vaughan, Donald Hagan, William Bridges, Matthew Dickinson, and Adam Coates Brief PDF Full Article Similar Articles Pennsylvania Private Forest Landowners Desire to Use Prescribed Fire Arun Regmi, Melissa Kreye, and Jesse Kreye Brief PDF Full Article Similar Articles Soil Seed Banks and the Restoration Potential of Fire-adapted Species in the Allegheny Plateau, West Virginia Cynthia Huebner, Melissa Thomas-Van Gundy, and Chris Underwood Brief PDF Full Article Similar Articles Predicting the Future of Wildfire in the Southern Appalachian Region Robbins, Z.J., Loudermilk, E.L., Mozelewski, T.G. Jones, K., Scheller, R.M. Brief PDF Full Article Similar Articles Causes and Outcomes of the 2016 Wildfires in the Southern Appalachians Reilly, M.J., Norman, S.P., O'Brien, J.J., Loudermilk, E.L. Brief PDF Full Article Similar Articles Prescribed Fire as a Tool to Reduce Tick Populations Michael R. Gallagher, Jesse K. Kreye, Erika T. Machtinger, Alexis Everland, Nathaniel Schmidt, Nicholas S. Skowronski Brief PDF Full Article Similar Articles High Severity Wildfire Impacts Water Yield and Water Quality in Southern Appalachian Watersheds. Peter Caldwell, Katherine Elliott, Ning Liu, James Vose, David Zietlow, and Jennifer Knoepp Brief PDF Full Article Similar Articles Featured Publication: The Fire Manager’s Guide to Blue Ridge Ecozones Adam Warwick Brief PDF PDF Guide On Long-unburned Sites, Oak-hickory Dominance Can Lead to Greater Delayed Canopy Dieback After Wildfire Due to Greater Duff Consumption and Fine Root Damage Dana O. Carpenter, Melanie K. Taylor , Mac A. Callaham , J. Kevin Hiers, E. Louise Loudermilk , Joseph J. O’Brien , Nina Wurzburger Brief PDF Full Article Similar Articles New Tree-Ring Fire Histories from the Appalachians Howard, L. F., et al. Saladyga, T., et al. Lafon, C. et al. Brief PDF Full Articles - Fire History and dendroecology of Catoctin Mountain, Maryland, USA, with newspaper corroboration - A multi-century fire history from the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia - Historical fire regimes and stand dynamics of xerophytic pine-oak stands in the southern Appalachian Mountains, Virginia, USA Similar Articles Hard Pine Regeneration and Historic Fire in the Central Appalachians, PA Michael Stambaugh, Joseph Marschall, et al. Brief PDF Full Article Similar Articles

Publications To find peer-reviewed publications, guides, articles and more click on one of the Appalachian fire science topics below. You can also use our search bar or contact us to help find what you are looking for. 2023 Appalachian Fire Science Papers Amphibians & Reptiles Bats Birds Chemistry/ Nutrients Chestnut Climate & Weather Controlled Burns Editorial/Public Outreach Fact Sheets/ Briefs Fire and Fire Surrogate Study Fire History Fire Techniques Fuels Insects/Arachnids Law & Policy Mammals Oak Pine Smoke/Emissions Social Science/Communication Soils & Duff Syntheses & Guides Wildfire Water Appalachian Fire Science CAFMS office is located in Clemson, SC. We disseminate peer-reviewed publications and articles providing fire managers with scientific research that encompasses the broad heterogeneity of the region. CAFMS strives to increase and accelerate the flow of science and improve land management strategies by connecting fire managers and scientists throughout the Appalachian region.

Resources Search our resource collection for videos, publications, guides and all things fire science! Or, click a link below to see resources by type. Publications Search our publication collection for guides, syntheses, research, and research briefs. Videos Check here for recordings of presentations, webinars, field tours and more! This page is linked to the CAFMS Youtube Channel. Newsletter Archive Look through our previous newsletters to find research briefs, useful links, and information about events and things going on throughout the region. Fire Frequency Tool This tool was developed to evaluate fire's cumulative impact, calculate frequency, examine seasonality and estimate fuel accumulation to facilitate decision making in targeting successive prescribed fire application. For use with ArcGIS- Can't find what you're looking for? Reach out! We're happy to help you find any resources you need.

Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers & Scientists Connecting fire managers and scientists throughout the Appalachians. LET'S TALK ABOUT FIRE CLICK HERE to join the Consortium! Announcements & Fire News Article Latest Newsletter Upcoming Webinar Principles of fire ecology April 2024 FLN Talking Fire Webinar Series: Working with the Media: How to Know Your Messages and Communicate Them May 30, 2024 1:00 p.m. EST Registration Upcoming Events Upcoming Events CLICK HERE to join the Consortium!

CAFMS Membership Become a member of the Consortium! Membership is free. Our members receive our quarterly newsletter with access to special workshops, events, job notices, and more. Becoming a member is a great way to connect with other fire professionals throughout the region. Include your information below to join. Thanks for being a part of CAFMS! partnership, guild, club, association Thanks for joining us! If you have any questions or additional comments related to your membership, please contact Lindsey Hosier: lindsey@cafms.org .

Thanks! You can download the Fire Frequency Tool (2.0) here. ArcMap and Arcpro script available in download Additional Fire Frequency Tool Resources Download Previous Version How to use the Fire Frequency Tool Download PDF Fire Frequency Tool How To Talladega Analysis (Stober & Holden, 2014) Download Analysis of fire frequency on the Talladega National Forest, USA, 1998-2018 Stober Jonathan, Merry Krista, Bettinger Pete (2020) Analysis of fire frequency on the Talladega National Forest, USA, 1998-2018. International Journal of Wildland Fire 29, 919-925 Download Fire Frequency Tool (1.0)

Upcoming Events Check here for upcoming trainings, workshops, meetings, presentations, and virtual events. If you have an event you'd like us to include on our calendar, share that info here .

The Appalachian Fire Map Share This is your Project description. Provide a brief summary to help visitors understand the context and background of your work. Click on "Edit Text" or double click on the text box to start.

Contact Us Here First Name Last Name Email Subject Message Send Thanks for submitting! Available Here Too Helen Mohr helen@cafms.org Todd Hutchinson todd.hutchinson@usda.gov Lindsey Hosier lindsey@cafms.org Want to be a part of the Consortium? Membership is free. Connect to fire science and fire professionals throughout the region! Learn more

CAFMS Staff Our Team We are here to help you connect with fire managers, practitioners, and scientists working in your area. We have access to the best fire science, information, and tools. We're ready to demonstrate new knowledge in the field, and much more! CAFMS is organized by a small team, but our organization includes all of our members - fire managers, researchers, and anyone interested in fire like you! CAFMS Staff Todd Hutchinson Principal Investigator todd.hutchinson@usda.gov Helen Mohr Director helen@cafms.org Lindsey Hosier Public Information Coordinator lindsey@cafms.org Todd grew up in Detroit, MI and Louisville, KY. He earned a bachelor's in biology from the University of Louisville. After completing a master's in plant ecology at the University of Miami, OH, Todd joined the USDA Forest Service Northeastern Forest Service Experiment Station, in 1994, to contribute to a research project on the reintroduction of presecribed fire in oak forests in Appalachian Ohio. In 2004, he earned a Ph.D. in ecology from the Ohio State University. Currently, Todd is a Research Ecologist with the USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station, and is located in Delaware, OH. Todd has conducted research on the effects of controlled burns on stand dynamics, tree regeneration, and understory plant communities in mixed-oak forests. He joined the CAFMS team as PI in 2016. Helen grew up in Seneca, SC and attended Clemson University for her bachelor's and master's degrees in Forest Resource Management. After graduation, she started working with the Forest Service Southern Research Station as a Forester. She worked alongside Tom Waldrop for most of her career and helped to build the Consortium to what it is today. She has assisted and led many studies associated with prescribed fire and wildfire in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Helen became the director of CAFMS in 2009. Lindsey grew up in Parker City, IN and attended Ball State University for her undergraduate degree in Recreation and Tourism Management. Prior to joining the Consortium in 2023, she worked for The Nature Conservancy of Virginia performing prescribed burns in fire dependent and adapted landscapes. She also worked to increase volunteer engagement by orchestrating events that focused on conservation throughout Virginia. Prior to working at TNC, she worked for Utah DNR - Utah Forestry Fire and State Lands as part of the wilderness urban interface program that mitigated the risks of wildfires. She currently resides in Lexington, VA. CAFMS Users' Board CAFMS Users' Board Our Users' Board consists of CAFMS members that advise our activities and help us connect with members throughout the region. Click on their pictures below to get more information about each board member. Adam Coates - Virginia Tech Adam is an Assistant Professor of Forest Fire Ecology and Management at Virginia Tech. He maintains an active research program focused primarily on fire ecology in the eastern US. This includes elements of fire behavior, fuels, fire effects, silviculture, and restoration ecology. More Information Ben Jones - Ruffed Grouse Society Ben is the President/CEO of the Ruffed Grouse & American Woodcock Society. His fire work began on the Homochitto National Forest investigating effects of prescribed fire on wild turkey habitat. He is currently interested in the effects of habitat restoration in reducing West Nile Virus in ruffed grouse. More Information Beth Buchanan - US Forest Service Beth is the Regional Fire Ecologist for Region 8 of the US Forest Service. She is located in Virginia but works with forests across the 13-state Southern Region as well as with federal, state, NGO, and university partners. She is co-lead of the Southern Blue Ridge Fire Learning Network. She also oversees the Region 8 fire effects monitoring program and encourages managers to work together to compile data across unit boundaries in order to show successful adaptively-managed fire programs More Information Don Hagan - Clemson University Don is an Associate Professor in the Forestry Program at Clemson University, where he teaches courses and conducts applied research. His research program addresses how fires influence population, community, and ecosystem-level processes in southern Appalachian forests. Current research projects are supported by the Joint Fire Science Program, the US Forest Service, and the National Park Service. More Information Melissa Thomas - Van Gundy - US Forest Service Northern Research Station Melissa is a Research Forester at the USFS Timber and Watershed Laboratory. Her research includes stand and landscape-level projects focused on restoration and sustainable management of forests in the eastern US. These projects include investigating the role of fire in oak forests, using witness trees to understand historical forest conditions, restoration of red spruce forests, and restoration of American chestnut. Melissa lives in Elkins WV with her husband, Doug and one very spoiled dog. More Information Ryan Jacobs - North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commision Ryan has worked for the NC Wildlife Resources Commission for more than 20 years and is currently Mountain Eco-region Supervisor for the Land and Water Access Division. He manages operations of Game Lands and boating/fishing access areas. In his former roles, Ryan conducted prescribed burns and oversaw forest habitat improvement projects. He also assisted several research projects focused on fire effects on wildlife habitat and ecosystem restoration in the Southern Appalachians. More Information Sam Lindblom - The Nature Conservancy Sam began his career with TNC in 1995 and joined the Virginia chapter the following year, serving as land steward until 2002. He then spent five years with TNC's global fire initiative, leading fire training for partners and staff across the organization. In 2022, Sam assumed the role of Director of Landscape conservation for the chapter, facilitating knowledge exchange across VA's landscapes and cross-boundary conservation teams, fostering collaboration to achieve conservation outcomes. More Information Tara Keyser - US Forest Service Southern Research Station Tara is a research forester with the USDA Forest Service's Southern Research Station. Her research focuses on methods to regenerate and restore oak in upland hardwood ecosystems and the effects of burning on southern US forests. You can find more information about her background, research interests, and publications using the link below. More Information Heather Alexander - Auburn University Dr. Heather D. Alexander is an associate professor of forest and fire ecology and the Dwain G. Luce Endowed Professor of Forestry in the College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Environment at Auburn University. She received her B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Texas at Austin, her PhD from the University of Kentucky, and performed her post-doctoral research at the University of Florida. Her research program at Auburn focuses on understanding forest ecosystem vulnerability in the face of changing fire disturbance regimes using observations across natural gradients and field-based experimental manipulations. She has studied fire effects on the composition, structure, and function of oak, mixed, and pine forests of the eastern U.S. for 20 years. More Information Top of Page CAFMS Users' Board CAFMS Staff

Let's talk about Fire We are one of 15 Fire Science Exchanges supported by the Joint Fire Science Program . Our goal is to connect fire managers and scientists throughout the Appalachians. CAFMS is largely successful because of our partnerships with state and federal agencies as well as NGOs like The Nature Conservancy's Fire Learning Network. ​ Although the Appalachians have a long history of frequent fire, using controlled burns as a tool for public land management is relatively new. There is a great need for science delivery on the risks, benefits, and effects of fire in our region. ​ We promote communication and collaboration through workshops, virtual meetings and presentations, plain-language research summaries, publications, social media, and individual meetings with CAFMS members. CAFMS membership is free, all you have to do is sign up ! Our members include fire managers, researchers, government officials, private landowners, students, and anyone with an interest in fire throughout the Appalachian region and beyond! CAFMS is 1 of 15 Fire Science Exchange Networks across the nation. The Fire Science Exchange Network (FSEN) works to accelerate the awareness, understanding, adoption, and implementation of readily available wildland fire science information. We cover the Appalachian region, from Alabama to Pennsylvania. To connect with another regional exchange, feel free to contact us or click on the map to the right for more information on the network. Supported by JFSP The Joint Fire Science Program (JFSP) is an interagency research, development, and applications partnership that is the national collaboration of all 15 Fire Science Exchange Networks. The JFSP provides funding for scientific studies associated with managing wildland fuels, fires, and fire-impacted ecosystems to respond to emerging needs of policymakers, managers, and practitioners. Joint Fire Science Program Appalachian Region Have a question related to fire science or management? Contact us. We're here to help. Get In Touch

Newsletter Archive CAFMS Members receive a quarterly newsletter featuring research highlights, upcoming events, job openings and more. To become a CAFMS member and receive our newsletter and other updates, go to our Sign Up page. 2024 April 2023 March July October December 2022 April July November December 2021 March August November December 2020 April June September December 2019 April June August December 2018 April July October December 2017 March July October December 2016 June September November December 2015 May August November December 2014 January March July December 2013 May July November December 2012 March August October December 2011 January June October December