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Introducing S‑112: A New Era in Entry‑Level Chainsaw Training

ADMIN Blog

Introducing S‑112: A New Era in Entry‑Level Chainsaw Training 🚧

What Is S‑112?

Effective April 30, 2025, NWCG officially added S‑112, Introduction to Chainsaw Operations, to its official training catalog and IQCS system National Interagency Fire Center+13iqcsweb.nwcg.gov+13The Healthy Forest Alliance Foundation+13. This new course is a blended learning course—consisting of:

This aligns with the updated PMS 310‑1 qualification standards, which stipulate that FAL 3 training will now require S‑112 (instead of the previous S‑212 requirement), starting the year after the new course is certified iqcsweb.nwcg.gov+7fs-prod-nwcg.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com+7fs-prod-nwcg.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com+7.

Why the Change? A Shift Toward a Tiered Sawyer Curriculum

Previously, NWCG offered a single chainsaw course—S‑212 Wildland Fire Chainsaws—for the Basic Faller (FAL 3) position. But following the Brian Hughes fatality corrective action and recommendations from the Hazard Tree and Tree Felling Subcommittee, NWCG decided to restructure chainsaw training into a three‑level system:

What This Means for FAL 3 Certification

Training Requirement Revision

Alignment with the PMS 310‑1 Qualification Matrix

Course Structure & Content

S‑112 offers foundational awareness and practical training for tasks typically performed by Basic Fallers:

  • Safety protocols, personal protective equipment (PPE), and human factors

  • Bucking, limbing, brushing, slashing, and simple directional felling

  • Risk management, situational awareness, and LCES (Lookouts, Communication, Escape Routes, Safety Zones)

This course is built to comply with the new national chainsaw standards (PMS 212, March 2025), which emphasize interagency consistency and OSHA compliance fs-prod-nwcg.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com+1fs-prod-nwcg.s3.us-gov-west-1.amazonaws.com+1U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service+2sbbchidaho.org+2The Healthy Forest Alliance Foundation+2.

Timeline & Rollout

  • Beta testing: Conducted in Florida (February 2024) and California (June 2024)

  • Final course edits and certification complete by early 2025

  • Course added to official catalog and IQCS effective April 30, 2025 sbbchidaho.org+1U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service+1iqcsweb.nwcg.gov

  • The updated PMS 310‑1 training matrix, once released, will reflect S‑112 as the required course for FAL 3 qualification—likely in the 2026 PMS 310‑1 revision cycle.

What This Means for You

✅ New trainees pursuing Basic Faller (FAL 3) certification after Spring 2025 will enroll in S‑112.

✅ Current qualification holders who already completed S‑212 and have active FAL 3 certification are not required to retake a different course—but new entries to the qualification track will follow the new S‑112 route.

✅ Agencies and training providers should update training plans, PTBs (Position Task Books), and study resources to support the new, tiered curriculum.

Summary

Final Thoughts

This new structure helps aspiring sawyers and training managers navigate chainsaw certification in a more logical, safety-first way. For Basic Faller certification starting mid‑2025 and beyond, S‑112 will be your required credential. Intermediate and advanced fallers will progress to S‑212 and S‑312 as their skill level and responsibilities increase. Agencies should begin onboarding the new course materials and updating task books accordingly.

Smoke Management Planning for Prescribed Fire: Ensuring Safety & Compliance

ADMIN Blog

Smoke Management Planning for Prescribed Fire: Ensuring Safety & Compliance

Prescribed fire is an essential land management tool, but smoke management is just as important as fire control. Without proper planning, smoke from a controlled burn can impact air quality, visibility, and public health. That’s why a well-developed smoke management plan (SMP) is critical.

If you’re a landowner considering a prescribed burn, our team provides professional smoke management services to ensure compliance with air quality regulations, minimize public impact, and keep your burn running smoothly.

Why Smoke Management Planning is Essential

🔥 Reduces air quality impacts – Ensures smoke disperses safely without harming nearby communities.
🔥 Maintains regulatory compliance – Meets state and local air quality requirements to avoid fines or shutdowns.
🔥 Protects public health – Minimizes smoke exposure risks for residents, schools, and healthcare facilities.
🔥 Enhances burn efficiency – A well-managed burn reduces excessive smoldering and improves fire outcomes.
🔥 Prevents road and aviation hazards – Avoids reduced visibility that can affect highways and airports.

Key Components of a Smoke Management Plan (SMP)

A smoke management plan is required for most prescribed burns and includes:

1. Smoke Dispersion Modeling

We use meteorological data and predictive models to forecast how smoke will travel based on:
✅ Wind direction and speed
✅ Atmospheric stability (how well the air mixes)
✅ Temperature and humidity
✅ Fuel type and burn intensity

2. Identifying Smoke-Sensitive Areas

We analyze the surrounding landscape to minimize smoke impacts on:
🏥 Hospitals and nursing homes
🏫 Schools and daycare centers
🏘 Residential communities
🚗 Highways and transportation routes
🛩 Airports and flight paths

3. Burn Timing & Meteorological Considerations

Choosing the right burn window is essential for proper smoke dispersion. We help determine:
🔥 The best season, day, and time for burning
🔥 Atmospheric conditions that promote smoke lift and dispersion
🔥 How to adjust ignition techniques to control smoke output

4. Permitting & Regulatory Compliance

We assist with all necessary permits and agency coordination, including:
✅ CAL FIRE & Local Air Quality Boards – Ensuring the burn follows state and county regulations
✅ Smoke Management Permits – Obtaining required approvals for legal compliance
✅ Public Notifications – Alerting nearby residents and businesses in advance

5. Smoke Monitoring During the Burn

To ensure smoke stays within acceptable limits, we provide:
📡 Real-time air quality monitoring to track smoke behavior
🛰 Satellite and drone imagery for large-scale smoke movement tracking
🚨 Adjustments to ignition patterns if unexpected conditions arise

6. Post-Burn Evaluations

After the fire, we conduct:
✅ Air quality impact assessments to determine compliance
✅ Smoke drift analysis to improve future burns
✅ Public reports if needed for regulatory agencies

How We Can Help: Our Smoke Management Services

We provide comprehensive smoke management solutions for landowners, conservation groups, and agencies conducting prescribed burns.

🔥 Custom Smoke Management Plans – Tailored to your land and burn objectives
🔥 Permit Assistance – Navigating air quality regulations and securing approvals
🔥 Real-Time Smoke Monitoring – Tracking smoke levels for safety and compliance
🔥 Burn Timing & Weather Analysis – Choosing the best conditions for minimal smoke impact
🔥 Public & Agency Coordination – Notifying communities and emergency services

Let’s Make Your Burn Safe & Compliant!

Managing smoke effectively is key to a successful, legal, and low-impact prescribed burn. Whether you need a full smoke management plan or just expert guidance, we’re here to help.

🔥 Contact us today to schedule a consultation and ensure your prescribed burn is safe, effective, and compliant with air quality regulations! 🔥

Fire Effects Monitoring for Prescribed Fire: Why It Matters and How It’s Done

ADMIN Blog

Fire Effects Monitoring for Prescribed Fire: Why It Matters and How It’s Done

Prescribed fire is a valuable tool for land management, but how do you know if your burn was successful? The answer lies in fire effects monitoring—a process that tracks the short- and long-term impacts of prescribed burns on vegetation, soil, and wildlife. By gathering data before, during, and after the fire, land managers can make informed decisions for future burns and ecosystem restoration efforts.

Why Fire Effects Monitoring is Important

🔥 Evaluates Burn Success – Did the fire meet the objectives (fuel reduction, habitat restoration, invasive species control)?
🔥 Improves Future Burns – Data helps refine burn plans and fire behavior predictions.
🔥 Assesses Environmental Impact – Tracks effects on plant regeneration, soil health, and wildlife.
🔥 Ensures Compliance – Helps meet regulatory requirements and scientific study needs.

1. Pre-Burn Monitoring: Establishing a Baseline

Before igniting a prescribed burn, it’s essential to establish baseline conditions to measure changes over time.

Key Pre-Burn Data to Collect:

✅ Vegetation Surveys – Identify plant species, density, and fuel loads.
✅ Fuel Moisture Levels – Measure dryness of vegetation, which affects fire intensity.
✅ Soil Conditions – Test for moisture, organic matter, and compaction.
✅ Wildlife Presence – Document species using the area before the burn.
✅ Photo Points – Take reference photos to compare post-burn changes.

Tools Used: GPS markers, soil probes, vegetation transects, fuel moisture meters, and aerial drone surveys.

2. Monitoring During the Burn

Tracking fire behavior in real time helps ensure burn objectives are met safely and effectively.

What to Monitor During a Burn:

🔥 Fire Intensity – Observe flame height, spread rate, and temperature.
🔥 Smoke Production & Dispersion – Assess air quality impacts and visibility concerns.
🔥 Burn Coverage – Record which areas burned completely, partially, or remained unburned.
🔥 Weather Conditions – Measure wind speed, temperature, humidity, and changes affecting fire behavior.

Tools Used: Infrared cameras, temperature sensors, weather stations, aerial drones, and on-the-ground field observations.

3. Post-Burn Monitoring: Assessing Fire Effects

After the fire is out, long-term monitoring helps track ecosystem recovery and evaluates if objectives were met.

Short-Term Post-Burn Assessments (Days to Weeks After Burn)

✅ Burn Severity Mapping – Classify areas as high, moderate, low, or unburned.
✅ Vegetation Response – Identify early sprouting and regrowth patterns.
✅ Soil Stability & Erosion – Check for ash deposition, hydrophobic soils, and runoff risk.
✅ Wildlife Movement – Monitor species return and habitat use.

Long-Term Monitoring (Months to Years After Burn)

🌿 Vegetation Recovery – Are native plants thriving? Are invasive species returning?
🔥 Fuel Accumulation – Is brush regrowth increasing future fire risk?
🐾 Wildlife Habitat Changes – Are key species benefiting from the fire?
🌎 Soil & Water Health – Has the fire improved nutrient cycling and watershed function?

Tools Used: Vegetation plot surveys, remote sensing (satellite and drones), repeat photography, and soil moisture testing.

4. Using Fire Effects Data to Improve Future Prescribed Burns

The information gathered from fire effects monitoring helps landowners and burn managers refine their strategies for future prescribed fires.

🔥 Adjust Burn Frequency – Should the area be burned more often or less frequently?
🔥 Modify Burn Timing – Would a different season provide better ecological benefits?
🔥 Change Fire Intensity – Should fire be applied at higher or lower temperatures for desired outcomes?
🔥 Adapt Fuel Management Strategies – Do more thinning, grazing, or pile burning need to be done before the next burn?

Let’s Monitor Your Fire Together!

Whether you're a landowner, conservationist, or prescribed fire practitioner, fire effects monitoring is essential to maximizing the benefits of controlled burns. If you need help tracking fire impacts on your property, our team of experts can assist with pre-burn assessments, real-time monitoring, and post-burn evaluations.

🔥 Contact us today to schedule a monitoring consultation! 🔥 Let’s work together to ensure your prescribed fire achieves its full potential.

Best Practices for Prepping Your Forested Land for Prescribed Fire: Control Lines & Fuel Reduction

ADMIN Blog

Best Practices for Prepping Your Forested Land for Prescribed Fire: Control Lines & Fuel Reduction

Prescribed fire is a powerful tool for managing forested land, reducing wildfire risk, and improving ecosystem health. However, preparing your property correctly is crucial to ensure the fire stays controlled and burns at the right intensity. Two of the most important aspects of burn preparation are establishing effective control lines and reducing fuel loading. This guide will walk you through best practices for both.

1. Establishing Strong Control Lines

Control lines are barriers that prevent fire from spreading beyond the intended burn area. Properly built control lines ensure safety and allow fire crews to maintain control throughout the burn.

Types of Control Lines

🔥 Bare Mineral Soil Firebreaks

  • Created by scraping away all vegetation and organic material down to bare soil
  • Should be at least 10 to 30 feet wide, depending on fuel load and terrain
  • Can be made with hand tools (rakes, shovels) or heavy equipment (dozers, tractors)
  • Best for grasslands, shrublands, and forests with thick leaf litter

🔥 Mowed or Disked Lines

  • Used in areas with grasses, shrubs, or light fuels
  • Mowers, brush cutters, or disk harrows reduce surface fuels and slow fire spread
  • Often combined with wetting agents or foam for added protection

🔥 Natural Control Lines

  • Streams, rocky outcrops, roads, or wetlands can serve as barriers
  • Must be wide enough to prevent ember spotting
  • Often reinforced with hand-cut firebreaks or wet lines

🔥 Wet Lines

  • Water, foam, or retardant is applied to vegetation before ignition
  • Useful in areas where mechanical firebreaks are not feasible
  • Requires continuous monitoring and reapplication

🔥 Blacklining (Pre-burning Control Lines)

  • Fire is carefully ignited along the perimeter before the main burn
  • Burns off fuel along the control line, creating a buffer
  • Helps prevent fire from escaping during the main ignition

2. Reducing Fuel Loading

Lowering the amount of burnable material (fuels) before ignition reduces fire intensity, making the burn safer and more effective. Fuel reduction strategies depend on vegetation type and fire objectives.

Fuel Types and How to Reduce Them

🌿 Grasslands & Light Brush

  • Mowing or grazing reduces fine fuels that cause fast-moving fires
  • Disking creates firebreaks and lowers fire intensity
  • Grazing with livestock (goats, cattle) can help maintain low fuel loads year-round

🌲 Forested Areas (Pine, Oak, or Mixed Woodlands)

  • Thinning small trees & saplings reduces ladder fuels that allow fire to reach the canopy
  • Limbing up trees (removing lower branches) reduces the risk of crown fires
  • Raking & clearing pine needles, leaves, and woody debris prevents excessive heat buildup

🔥 Heavy Brush & Chaparral

  • Mechanical mastication (grinding brush into mulch) creates a more even fuel bed
  • Hand-cutting and piling followed by burning or chipping removes dense fuels
  • Herbicide treatments can reduce invasive, fire-prone species before the burn

🌳 Dead Trees & Large Woody Debris

  • Felling and removing dead trees eliminates high-risk fuels
  • Pile burning safely removes large debris in small, controlled fires
  • Chipping and spreading mulch lowers fuel density and speeds decomposition

3. Timing Fuel Reduction for Maximum Effectiveness

🔥 3-6 Months Before the Burn:

  • Begin major fuel reduction efforts (thinning, brush clearing, pile burning)
  • Establish primary control lines

🔥 1-2 Weeks Before the Burn:

  • Mow fine fuels along firebreaks
  • Remove last-minute obstacles like fallen branches
  • Reinforce control lines with water or foam if necessary

🔥 1-2 Days Before the Burn:

  • Conduct test burns to evaluate fire behavior
  • Apply wet lines if needed

4. Post-Burn Monitoring & Fuel Maintenance

Even after a successful prescribed burn, continued maintenance is essential to keep fuel loads low and ensure long-term land health.

✅ Monitor for smoldering hotspots and extinguish any lingering embers
✅ Reseed burned areas to encourage beneficial vegetation growth
✅ Continue periodic fuel reduction through thinning, grazing, or future burns

Get a Free Site Evaluation for Your Prescribed Burn!

Properly prepping your land with strong control lines and strategic fuel reduction ensures a safe, effective prescribed burn. If you’re planning a burn, our team of California Certified Burn Bosses (CARX) can help you assess your property and create a plan tailored to your needs.

🔥 Contact us today for a FREE site evaluation! 🔥 Let’s work together to make your prescribed fire safe, effective, and beneficial for your land.

Press Release

Healthy Forest Alliance Awarded Contract to Provide Prescribed Fire Site Visits, Burn Plans, and Training in Amador County

About The Healthy Forest Alliance

The Healthy Forest Alliance Foundation Inc. is a Nonprofit Corporation - CA - Public Benefit (6573681)

Your donation supports our mission and is tax-deductible. Healthy Forest Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit recognized by the IRS. (EIN: 33-3363950).

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