Prescribed Burns

• Volunteers must be able to walk over uneven terrain. Our burn units can sometimes be hilly and strenuous. 
• Volunteers must be able to handle strenuous and potentially uncomfortable situations, such as smoke, heat, sun exposure, and extended periods of walking.
• Bathroom availability varies by park. View our Open Restrooms webpage for more information. If there is no bathroom at a burn site, either use one before arriving at a burn or ask staff to suggest a nearby public location.

Volunteering on a Prescribed Burn:

Prior to joining staff on any Dane County Park prescribed burn, an individual must be a registered volunteer and must have a baseline training and/or certification by Dane County Parks. The following applies:

1. The individual attending a prescribed burn must be a registered Dane County Parks Volunteer through Dane County's MyImpact Volunteer Portal* (see note).
2. Proof of attendance at an approved training and/or a copy of a certificate from a completed prescribed fire course must be uploaded by the volunteer through their MyImpact Portal. Instructions on how to do this are on MyImpact. This baseline training does not expire. 
3. The Volunteer must attend an annual refresher, hosted by DCP each year prior to the start of burn season. 

*For individuals without computer access or a valid email, a paper Volunteer Waiver can be supplied upon request, however signups are conducted through MyImpact and the volunteer will need to talk with Natural Areas staff to figure out a solution that works for both staff and the volunteer. 
 

Accepted Baseline Fire Trainings/ Certifications: 

• National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) S-190 AND S-130 Certifications 
• WI Department of Natural Resources (WIDNR) Fire Department Wildland Training for Cooperative Areas - NFPA 1051 (hosted in the past by DCP)
• Dane County Prescribed Fire 101 Training (hosted annually by DCP)
• The Prairie Enthusiasts Prescribed Burn Crew Training
• Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance's Prescribed Fire Workshop - Fire Ecology and Field Instruction 
• Other equivalent baseline trainings may be considered but must be approved by DCP Natural Areas staff
   

If there are currently no DCP trainings scheduled, go to the Volunteer Sign-up webpage and select "Volunteer - Prescribed Burn Trainings" to be added to the notification email list. 

Adult (18+) volunteers only.

Most prescribed burns occur in the early spring (March-May), but fall and even summer burns are possible.

• Notices are only sent out to registered volunteers on our prescribed burn list who have met our training requirements. 

Any volunteer looking to join Dane County Parks on a prescribed burn must attend an Annual Refresher at the beginning of burn season (usually in March), where we review the below information and much more. 

What to Bring:

• Volunteers should bring their own water. We provide bottled water as a backup.
• Volunteers should bring a lunch and snacks as prescribed burn timing is variable (and calorie intensive). 
• Volunteers should bring leather work gloves and eye protection. We can provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as a backup. 
• Having a small backpack to keep your things in is recommended. Bags can be sometimes be stowed in a water ATV on a burn line. 

What to Wear:

• Wear “fire safe” clothing made of natural fibers that will not melt (cotton, wool, etc.), wear leather work boots, and a ball cap or hat to protect your head/hair. Keep an eye on the weather and wear layers.  
  • Staff provide fire-resistant Nomex jumpsuits for volunteers to wear over their clothing if they prefer. Staff also provide radio harnesses and radios, as all volunteers wear a radio for communication purposes.
  • Staff provide hard hats during woodland burns.