Urban Prescribed Burn

Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge, Fort Worth Fire Department, and the Fort Worth Botanic Garden have partnered to host an Urban Burn Workshop on Friday, March 3, 2023. The workshop will be held at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT Building, 1700 University Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76107-3400). It will include both classroom instruction and a live demonstration burn of the BRIT Pocket Prairie, located just behind the BRIT building at the corner of University Drive and Trail Drive.

NOTE: Workshop attendees will observe the live burn, but will not be directly involved.

This workshop will cover the basics of conducting a successful prescribed burn within an urban setting and is designed for city and county decision makers, urban land managers, urban park managers, urban fire personnel, and other urban land management professionals. (Not in one of these groups but still interested for the professional development? Register anyway for consideration on a space-available basis.)

Hear from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas Nature Conservancy, Texas Forest Service, Fort Worth Fire Department, and more!

Confirmed topics:

Using fire to meet park/land management goals
Fire History of North Texas
Planning and implementing a prescribed burn
- Burn Plans
- Weather
- Smoke Management
- Proper PPE
Create local partnerships

Registration is required for this FREE event. Space is limited (this page will be updated once registration is full). Deadline to register: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2023. There is no cost for workshop; however, attendees will be responsible for their own transportation to the Garden and lunch (food truck(s) or other opportunities to purchase lunch will be shared via email).

>> Register for the workshop here <<
(Registration is now closed)

Please bookmark this page for updates on the workshop!

Detailed Agenda (pdf version here)

7:15a — Attendee check-in: Main foyer of Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) building; 1700 University Dr, Fort Worth, TX 76107-3400

8:00a — Welcoming Remarks (Daniel Price, Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge)

8:15a — “Where We Went Wrong – History of Fire in North Texas” (Brandon Belcher, The Nature Conservancy)

9:15a — BREAK

9:30a — Topic: Planning a Prescribed Burn: Considerations for Urban/Small Acreage Landowners (Wesley Evans, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department)

10:00a — “Staying In the Box” (Boe Adler, Texas Forest Service)

10:45a — “Outdoor Burning in Texas” (Heather Brister, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality)

11:15a — Presentation by Fort Worth Fire Department

11:45a — LUNCH

1:00p — “‘The City will never start a fire’ and other fallacies I’ve been told” (Rob Denkhaus, Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge)

1:30p — Panel Discussion: Q&A with presenters and other professionals in the room

2:00p — Live Fire Exercise: Briefing; observing live fire demonstration (weather permitting); After Action Review

4:00p — Closing Remarks

Thank you to these participating organizations!

Texas Parks & Wildlife

Texas A&M Agrilife

Fort Worth Fire Department

Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality

Texas A&M Forest Service

The Nature Conservancy

Texas Prescribed Fire Council

Questions about the workshop can be directed to either Daniel Price (daniel.price@fortworthtexas.gov) or Brooke Best (bbest@fwbg.org).

Videos

Watch the Facebook livestream of the January 2021 burn from Fort Worth Fire Department.