Last spring, the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council facilitated a prescribed fire training for landowners with support from NRF’s C.D. Besadny Conservation Fund.
In this guest blog, originally published by the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council, Lucas LoBreglio reflects on the training and the crucial role landowners play in conserving fire-dependent ecosystems.
The landowner training included equipment demonstrations, including new backpack pump cans funded by NRF. Photo by Lucas LoBreglio
The role of landowners in prescribed fire
If Wisconsin is to succeed in sustaining its fire-dependent ecosystems, landowners must be the focal point of the effort. A vast majority of Wisconsin land is under private ownership and a wide array of ecosystems benefit from prescribed fire, from deer hunting and property beautification to groundwater recharge and carbon sequestration. The positive impacts of landowner involvement go far beyond the burn unit.
Landowners learning about prescribed fire during a training day. Photo by Lucas LoBreglio
Prescribed fire training for Wisconsin landowners
After our experience facilitating this spring’s Prescribed Fire Training For Wisconsin Landowners, it’s safe to say that Wisconsinites are ready and eager to get involved with prescribed fire. In May 2025, our team of WPFC staff and volunteers convened with landowners from across the state for two days of intensive education on a privately-owned site in Tomah, Wisconsin.
We began with classroom presentations covering the basics of wildland fire behavior, history, and ecology. The second half of the day delved into fire implementation. We discussed proper weather conditions, steps for conducting a ring fire, and burn crew chain of command. We capped off the day with equipment demonstrations using our new cache of backpack pump cans, generously funded by donors and NRF’s C.D. Besadny Fund.
Class presentations during the first day of training. Photo by Emma Raasch
It’s safe to say that Wisconsinites are ready and eager to get involved with prescribed fire.
Perfect conditions
Day two of the training focused on live fire exercises and the weather was nearly perfect. High temperatures and low relative humidity allowed fire to carry through the site’s grass fuels, which were already somewhat green at that point in the season. The wind interfaced with the driftless topography of the burn units and the surrounding woodlands to showcase the factors affecting fire behavior and how it can be hard to predict at times. The trainees worked enthusiastically to combat simulated spot fires and practice break burning. Then, they kept up the energy for a ring fire on another unit. After an after action review to conclude the training, most folks stuck around for an extra burn on a small woodland unit.
Participants survey the land as part of the training. Photo by Lucas LoBreglio
Next steps for landowners
This spring’s cohort came with a variety of experience levels and land management goals. As the program came to a close, one thing became clear: each of them felt empowered to make decisions about prescribed fire on their property, whether it involved hiring a contractor, collaborating with neighbors, or seeking further experience with the goal of leading their own burns. With a holistic introductory course under their belts, the trainees were ready to pursue the projects that were most important to them.
Landowners were excited to gain hands-on experience with prescribed fire. Photo by Lucas LoBreglio
As the program came to a close, one thing became clear: each of them felt empowered to make decisions about prescribed fire on their property.
The future of prescribed fire in Wisconsin
As a nonprofit program, this training is not just a service we offer. It is a crucial grassroots effort that brings people together into a community of practice. Organizations like Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council and Pheasants Forever are working to create more of these spaces by encouraging the growth of Prescribed Burn Associations, where regional groups of landowners can come together to share knowledge, resources, and experiences. It’s an exciting time to be prescribed fire advocates in Wisconsin. This spring’s training showed us that landowners share our excitement for these new programs.
Training attendees standing in a recently burned area of land. Photo by Lucas LoBreglio
Host a training on your property
Where should we take our landowner training next? Interested in partnering with us to host one on your property or have a group of landowners already doing small burns that need some technical expertise? Email Kristina Weld, the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council’s Training Specialist, at training@prescribedfire.org.
Guest Blogger
Lucas LoBreglio (he/him/his)
Program Specialist for the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council
Lucas works and burns with organizations across southern Wisconsin, promoting the safe and effective use of prescribed fire throughout the state. He helps the WPFC create new resources and pathways for Wisconsinites of all backgrounds to get involved with fire ecology.
Written by Lucas LoBreglio, originally published by the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council
Prescribed Fire Webinar – a land restoration tool we’re lucky to have 🍀
How does setting a natural landscape on fire (in a safe and controlled way) encourage more native wildflowers and grasses to grow? Why is prescribed fire different from the massive problematic wildfires out west? How does controlled burning help insects, birds, and other wildlife in Wisconsin, and how can YOU help?
Grab your lunch and get all the answers from experts at the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council. Webinar hosted by the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin.
When: Tuesday, March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day!) from 12 to 1pm
Where: Zoom Webinar
40 Years of Supporting Conservation
The Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin (NRF) has been protecting our state’s lands, waters, and wildlife since 1986. NRF started contributing to land management efforts that use prescribed fire way back in 1990. For thousands of years before European settlement, fires were quite common in Wisconsin. Now, prescribed fire is an important tool for maintaining our state’s native ecosystems. We were proud to support this landowner training, and in the years to come we hope to support the use of prescribed fire even more!