Prescribed burning is a land management tool that benefits the safety of the public, the environment, and the economy of the state. Certification can reduce the liability for those conducting outdoor burning.
GFC instructors will provide instruction on subjects such as fire behavior, fire weather and fire tactics.
Applicants may attend one of several training sessions scheduled throughout the year where they will receive a comprehensive study manual and instruction on subjects such as fire behavior, fire weather and fire tactics. The applicants must pass a written test, have two years of experience and meet a prerequisite of having been the person in charge of five prescribed burns before becoming a certified prescribed burner in Georgia.
Upcoming Certification Training
| Title | Description | Document Type |
|---|---|---|
| Prescribed Fire Certification Course – Chattahoochee Technical College | Date of Event: June 7 – 8, 2022 Location: Appalachian Campus, Building B, Room 261 Times: Registration Check-in is from 7:30-8 am. The course is from 8 am-4:30 pm. Free registration for the First 30 participants is now closed. Registration for the course is $135 per person. Please register before May 27th, 2022 For more information, call 770-529-2345 or email CorporateTraining@ChattahoocheeTech.edu. | External Website |
| Bonus Training Opportunity – Georgia Prescribed Fire Council North Georgia meeting | Stay an extra day (June 9) to attend the Georgia Prescribed Fire Council North Georgia meeting to be held at the same location. | External Website |
| Prescribed Fire Certification Course – Coastal Pines Technical College | Date: December 7 – 8, 2022 Time: TBD Registration will open up on July 1 so check back then to get the registration link. |
Helpful Resources
| Title | Description | Document Type |
|---|---|---|
| Bonus Training Opportunity – Georgia Prescribed Fire Council North Georgia meeting | Stay an extra day (June 9) to attend the Georgia Prescribed Fire Council North Georgia meeting to be held at the same location. | External Website |
| Daily Fire Danger Rating Map | Daily updates of fire risks across Georgia | External Website |
| Fine Fuel Moisture Table | A close estimate of the fine dead fuel moisture (FDFM) on your burn unit any time a FDFM reading is desired | |
| Fire Weather Forecast | Current Fire Weather Forecasts and current National Fire Danger Ratings by GFC Areas | External Website |
| Georgia Prescribed Burn Laws | Prescribed Burn Laws from the Official Code of Georgia, Section 12-6-90 and Sections 12-6-145 through 12-6-149 | External Website |
| Georgia Prescribed Fire Council | Council for prescribed fire advocacy across the state | External Website |
| Introduction to Prescribed Fire in Southern Ecosystems | Helpful resource for managers to plan and execute prescribed burns in Southern forests and grasslands | |
| NORTH GEORGIA BURN BAN BOOSTS AIR QUALITY | On May 1, an outdoor burn ban will begin in 54 Georgia counties, primarily in the northern half of the state. Affected residents are asked to refrain from burning yard and land clearing debris, whose smoke can negatively impact the state’s air quality during the hot summer months by contributing to high ozone levels. These conditions have been linked to lung and heart disease in humans. Please see this .pdf for more details. | |
| Prescribed Burn Certification Affidavit Form | ||
| Prescribed Burn Plan – 2021 Update | A resource for all GFC personnel when conducting prescribed burn assistance for landowners and when conducting prescribed burning on GFC owned lands | |
| Prescribed Burning Brochure | Overview of best practices for preparing a prescribed burn plan | |
| Prescribed Fire – Sprewell Bluff Natural Area | Overview of a prescribed fire near Thomaston, GA conducted by members of an inter-agency burn team | Video |
| Prescribed Fire Certification Course – Chattahoochee Technical College | Date of Event: June 7 – 8, 2022 Location: Appalachian Campus, Building B, Room 261 Times: Registration Check-in is from 7:30-8 am. The course is from 8 am-4:30 pm. Free registration for the First 30 participants is now closed. Registration for the course is $135 per person. Please register before May 27th, 2022 For more information, call 770-529-2345 or email CorporateTraining@ChattahoocheeTech.edu. | External Website |
| Prescribed Fire Certification Course – Coastal Pines Technical College | Date: December 7 – 8, 2022 Time: TBD Registration will open up on July 1 so check back then to get the registration link. | |
| Prescribed Fire in Georgia – A Strategic Plan 2008-2020 | Helpful resource for detailed information on prescribed burning | |
| Smoke Management Plan | Georgia’s basic procedures and requirements for managing smoke from prescribed burns | |
| V Smoke | VSmoke-Web is a web-based implementation of VSmoke (Lavdas, 1996) and is designed to assist with planning prescribed burns in the Southern United States. | External Website |