The Fire Effects and Communications Specialist will develop story maps which interpret and visually display data pertaining to fire ecology in the Southern Blue Ridge (SBR) and illustrate why and how the network partners are working toward promoting resilient pine and oak forests. He/she will help assess how models predict fuel consumption predicted in models (Consume and FEPS) compared to pre- and post-burn data collected in monitoring plots to inform adjustments managers should consider when using existing standard fuel information. He/she will provide support for smoke modeling by chapter staff and make existing data sets more accessible to network partners. This is a short-term, full-time position, lasting approximately 10 weeks in duration. The hourly pay is $15.00/hr., and is anticipated to start on October 1, 2018.
- Gather information about the Fire Learning Network and assemble it into a story map that illustrates why and how the network partners are working toward promoting resilient pine and oak forests in the SBR.
- Make fuel loading information accessible to practitioners in smoke dispersion models used by practitioners.
- Work with fire managers to develop recommendations if and how fuel loads in fuel beds may need to be adjusted.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND SCOPE
- Prepare story maps for Fire Learning Network and monitoring projects.
- Make FCCS fuel bed maps for Southern Appalachians and Coastal NC available and user friendly to fire practitioners.
- Compare local fuel loading data from SBR FLN monitoring plots to fuel loads in FCCS fuel beds.
- Compare consumption predictions by models used in HYSPLIT (FEPS, CONSUME) to pre-and post-burn data. Prepare a report on the findings.
- Participate in controlled burns on both TNC and partner lands as a FFT2 or higher qualification which may require physical exertion, outdoors, in all weather conditions and on difficult sometimes hazardous terrain.
- Experience creating story maps.
- Experience in managing and analyzing date in excel, creating graphs.
- Familiarity with FEPS, FOFEM, CONSUME, FFT, BLUESKY software.
- Ability to learn software packages independently.
- Must achieve physical fitness standard as determined by local Fire Program Manager to participate on burns.
- Must be able to obtain related licenses or certifications as required. (e.g. First Aid, CPR, and driver’s license).
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Multi-lingual skills and multi-cultural or cross-cultural experience appreciated.
- Minimum GPA of 2.8 in an undergraduate program related to natural resources, environmental sciences, ecology, or a related field.
- Experience in managing and analyzing date in excel, creating graphs.
- Experience in ARC GIS to create maps and reports, and to create and edit shapefiles.
- Ability to perform physical work, sometimes under adverse conditions or inclement weather.
- Qualified as or able to meet qualifications for FFT2, including Introduction to ICS (I-100), Human Factors on the Fireline (L-180), Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior (S-190), Firefighter Training (S-130), and one training burn serving under the supervision of a qualified FFT2.
- Must achieve arduous physical fitness standard to participate on controlled burns.