Napa Prescribed Burn Association
Our Mission
The Mission of the Napa County PBA is to build a volunteer-based mutual aid group that empowers the community to use responsible controlled burning techniques to reduce the risk of catastrophic fire and restore forest health by providing the education, training, and resources to conduct prescribed burns.
Napa PBA was established in 2023 and is working to build a community around helping neighbors bring good fire to the landscape. Currently, we are working on outreach, education, and training opportunities to engage the community in safe and ecological burning. We welcome and encourage anyone interested in prescribed fire to join us!
Interested in a Prescribed Burn on your Property?
Prescribed fire is a tool that can be used for many goals and objectives such as rangeland improvement, fuel reduction, follow-up treatment to other stewardship activities, and more.
The PBA can help landowners navigate the permitting process, offers technical assistance, and coordinates volunteers and equipment for the day of the burn. We assist with both pile burns and broadcast burns.
If you are interested in having the PBA help implement a burn on your on your property, contact Tori Norville, trnorville@ucanr.edu, or Danielle Ashton, danielle@naparcd.org to set up a site visit.
Resources
General Prescribed Fire Resources
Working with Prescribed Burn Associations
Prescribed Fire Liability in California - background information on liability laws in California and recommendations for mitigating prescribed fire liability concerns (note - slightly older publication. For up-to-date liability information click here)
Smoke Resources
Comparing Community Smoke Exposure from Wildfires to Prescribed Fire in the United States
USFS: Smoke 101 and Differences between Wildfire and Prescribed Fire Smoke in the Western United States
Events
Below are our upcoming events, burns, and trainings. Click the links to sign up.
** Fall Burn Events Coming Soon**
Our Story
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Fire Lighter Training 2024 August 2024 Napa PBA in collaboration with Yolo PBA and Solano RCD hosted a Fire Lighter Training to provide fire knowledge and skills to PBA members. The two virtual trainings focused on the 'Fire Environment' which discussed factors to fire behavior and 'Fire Operations' which detailed burn plans, safety concerns on the fire, and tools. The virtual trainings were paired with a hands-on skill day that allowed members to build hand lines, learn firing patterns, and utilize tools for measuring weather. |
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Pile Burning at PUC March 2024 After a some good rain, about 18 members of the PBA met to help burn piles by the Pacific Union College dorms. These piles had been made while creating a shaded fuel break along the ridge behind the dorms. The PBA worked together with CALFIRE to light and monitor about 50 piles and completed about a 1/3 of the project area. Due to weather conditions, the remaining piles had to be left for the next burn season.
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