Joint Firefighter Training at UCSB Sedgwick Reserve

By the University of California

For the first time in Southern California history, 50 firefighters and “firelighters” from throughout California, other States and Canada are joining forces in Santa Barbara County to hold a Prescribed Fire Training Exchange November 12-19th.

Prescribed Fire Training Exchanges (TREX), first came to Northern California in 2013, and have made a dynamic, positive cultural shift concerning prescribed fire, both within the regional fire services and the general public. These “good fire” TREX events have drawn significant attention, especially in the context of more severe wildfire seasons.

Now after nine months of cross-organizational, cooperative planning, the week-long training will have the opportunity to make new and lasting positive change concerning “good fire” in Southern California. The TREX will provide experiential training opportunities to advance regional prescribed fire capacity while also enhancing research to better understand the ecological response of wild plant and animal species following fire.

At this TREX event, participants, including members of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, Santa Barbara County Fire Department, The Nature Conservancy, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR), scientists, ranchers, students, researchers, land managers and others, will learn how to safely conduct prescribed burns in the mosaic habitat of The Nature Conservancy’s Dangermond Preserve and UC Sedgwick Reserve. Along with the multiple prescribed burns, the week-long program will include lectures and seminars on local fire ecology of plant and animal species, tribal burning and burn planning, led by the burn boss and other experts.

For more information on this TREX event, contact our Public Information Officers:

Matthew Shapero, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, Livestock & Range Advisor, (805) 680-3159 Heather Gately, The Nature Conservancy, heather.gately@tnc.org, 773-474-4500
Frank Davis, UCSB Director of the La Kretz Research Center at Sedgwick Reserve, (805) 252-1187