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
Contact the hosting venue to register for a Prescribed Burn Certification Training class.
Helpful Resources
| Title | Description | Document Type |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Prescribed Burn Certification Affidavit Form | ||
| Prescribed Burn Plan | 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 Training (Buena Vista – April 2020) | ||
| 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 |