Field Notes - May, 2026

The Down East North Carolina Prescribed Burn Association.

-Field Notes-

For local landowners, land managers, fire practitioners, and subject experts to share information, resources, and experiences and to better equip each other in order to establish more prescribed fire acres, further enhancing the multiple resources of our forests.

May, 2026

Current Situation…

Drought persists. Previous rains have temporarily reduced the threat of new wildfires, however, any brief drying event can bring all of those conditions back. The eastern NC spring fire season typically runs through the month of May as pocosin fuels (the green stuff) are most volatile during this time. The statewide burn ban has been lifted for 81 counties including our area. Updates for the NC Forest Service burn ban or fire activity can be found here.

While planning for growing season prescribed fire continues, we’ll have to closely monitor soil moistures even with the statewide burn ban lifted. Dry duff and soils can easily cause root damage days after a burn is completed and burn unit mop up and monitoring can last for days on end. Our timber is likely in a weakened state from the drought alone. Adding stress from fire may not be a good idea right now.

A Down East PBA Special Event

Wildlife Conservation Assistance for Private Landowners

This is your opportunity to speak with a variety of Wildlife, Forestry, and Land Management professionals to learn what Conservation Programs and Funding Opportunities are available for you and your property.

NC Wildlife Resources Commission, New Bern Depot

951 Perrytown Road, New Bern, NC 28562

May 20, 2026; 11:00 am - 1:00 pm, followed by an optional field tour 1:00 pm - 3:30 pm

RSVP by May 15, 2026

You will receive the full event details and updates upon successfully submitting this registration form.

Join the NC Wildlife Federation, Down East Prescribed Burn Association, and the Onslow Bight Conservation Collaboration for a BBQ chicken lunch and to learn about forest and wildlife conservation programs for private landowners. Conservation opportunities for landowners can be in the form of technical assistance and funding opportunities.

We are bringing in multiple organizations in North Carolina to discuss what they can offer to private landowners interested in wildlife conservation on their properties. Those include:

NC Wildlife Resources Commission

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Wildlife Conservation Land Program

NC Wildlife Federation

Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)

NC Forest Service

NCSU Cooperative Extension Forestry

Coastal Land Trust

Ruffed Grouse/American Woodcock Society

Down East Prescribed Burn Association

There is an optional field tour planned from 1:30 pm-3:30 pm to learn more about managing longleaf pine forests for wildlife. The field tour will occur off-site, so plan for a short commute from the depot.

New online prescribed fire academy launched for private landowners!

Dive deeper into prescribed fire planning, implementation, and evaluation with a new series of online, self paced learning targeted for the self-burner.

The Academy was designed for private landowners and managers, with online materials and assignments that provide the flexibility to balance other responsibilities. These resources familiarize students with prescribed fire concepts from state Certified Prescribed Burn Manager Programs, the Guidebook to Prescribed Burning in the Southern Region, and Tall Timbers research and staff experience.

We encourage you to enroll in the Academy and welcome your feedback on this inaugural launch, as we will use your input to inform the second offering in Summer of 2026.

The Dirt Burns

Organic soil smoldering during the Evans Road fire in 2008, with more than a foot of soil burned around the roots of the trees. (Image from InciWeb/NC Forest Service)

Every time we burn we have to consider soil moisture. Damp fuels at the bottom of the litter layer are ideal for protecting tree root systems within the duff layer just above the soil. During drought conditions our burns can smolder through the duff layer, contributing to tree mortality, but also creating a significant hazard unique to parts of our PBA area because- the dirt burns.

Organic soils make up a portion of eastern NC and are designated in soil types such as the Pungo, Ponzer, or Croatan series. These deep, acidic soils are composed of dense organic matter and are commonly referred to as muck or peat soils. Organic soils are also unique in the fact that they store a significant amount of the earth’s carbon, aiding in lowering the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. They’re often found in low lying swamps and drainages, however, many of these areas have been altered by drainage. Rich in nutrients, organic soils have often been cleared and drained for agriculture or timber production, converting these once saturated soils into available fuel.

We call it ground fire. If you’ve lived in eastern NC for long you’ve experienced it- the lingering smell of dense smoke in the early morning hours, or the incredibly thick “super fog” that can be created when atmospheric conditions are right. Smoke impacts are the major risks of ground fire, and has also been a contributing factor in vehicle crash fatalities. Ground fire can burn for many weeks on end, and can burn much longer than any weather forecast can reasonably predict. It takes an enormous amount of water to saturate and extinguish ground fire, and commonly requires a tropical rain system or two.

Know your soil types. Soil moistures are a key element in burn planning. Duff and soil moisture need to be present. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is a good reference to start with since it deals with duff and soil at the surface. Walk the tract and ground truth what the data tells you. As a general rule, most burners exercise extreme caution when KBDI reaches 300-350 on organic soils. Anything above 400, don’t do it. We’d rarely burn anything when drought conditions are present in order to prevent tree mortality. Having organic soils on the site makes the risks that much higher.

Florida Wildfires

Regardless of your prescribed fire objectives, hazardous fuel reduction is at least a by product every time you burn. Parts of Florida and Georgia are experiencing exceptional drought and the area has been riddled with numerous fires over the past several weeks.

Two week old fire scar with 40’ scorch heights and most duff and root material removed. Needles from the dead tree canopy create a fresh bed of straw on the ground creating the potential for reburn.

Wildfires still occur in managed areas however the impacts can be minimized with strategic land management, hazardous fuel reduction, and the implementation of managed fuel breaks. Public information and outreach is critical as well, building local tolerance and support of smoke and forestry practices. Wildfire risks will always be present, but there’s a good deal we can do to mitigate those risks and protect the natural resources we depend on and enjoy.

A few miles down the road on Osceola National Forest, in the same timber type, a recent prescribed burn with healthy timber and new growth appearing on the forest floor.

Letter from the Coordinator

What’s in the works? PBA Coordinators from across the state, along with our new Statewide Coordinator Angela Gaskell, have been combining resources and working to bring our members new training opportunities and resources. There’s plans for smoke management training, video tutorials, Longleaf workshops, and more. The NC Forest Service is hosting their Certified Burner Course a couple of times, but between the PBA’s, we’ll be able to add several more burner course opportunities close to you.

There are many, more than I imagined, conservation groups and/or partners that offer assistance in our area. We plan to host some of those groups on May 20th in New Bern. The objectives of managing our lands for timber, fish, and wildlife, for commercial, private, and public uses means that we all have roughly the same goals and objectives. This allows us to have a broader impact in our area by coordinating projects together.

A challenging issue that still exist is the availability and affordability of prescribed fire insurance. We recently met with a representative from Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy who is pursuing an initiative to create a broad, blanket insurance approach to PBA areas and members. We’ll keep you posted on any updates.

In the meantime let’s continue to build our Down East PBA and continue to be a solid organization for resources and accomplishments. I look forward to the continued work of our PBA!