Duff in the Mountains FIre Science WOrkshop
February 24, 2026 9:00am-4:00pm
Project Management:
Sarah Cain (sacain2@ncsu.edu), Lindsey Hosier (lindsey@cafms.org), David Godwin (drg2814@ufl.edu), and Adam Coates (acoates4@vt.edu) are the project management team for this workshop. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the project management team.
Reintroducing fire into long-unburned forests has led to unexpected tree mortality. In many cases, valuable overstory trees, important for wildlife habitat and cultural history, have died following prescribed burns due to large accumulations of soil organic horizons, often referred to as duff. Sites with heavy duff loads continue to present persistent and pressing challenges for prescribed fire managers in the montane region of North Carolina. Research funded by the Joint Fire Science Program has revealed that thick layers of dry duff around tree bases ignite and burn slowly, damaging roots, causing stress, and resulting in tree death. These findings shifted fire management strategies toward gradually reducing duff layers rather than immediately restoring open forest structure. This workshop, hosted by Southern Fire Exchange and the Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers and Scientists, will support this approach by providing scientific presentations, field demonstrations, and planning tools to help land managers assess duff conditions, plan effective burns, and protect legacy and economically important trees. Emphasis will be placed on practical, low-cost techniques, like duff moisture testing and multi-stage burns, making fire science accessible and actionable for a wide range of landowners and fire practitioners.
Snacks and lunch will be provided. Lodging will not be provided nor will there be discounted rates offered. Transportation to and from Green River Game Lands will be provided.
We anticipate participants will be eligible for Society of American Foresters CFE credit.
Agenda:
8:30 – 9:00: Check-In / Registration / Coffee at NC Cooperative Extension | Henderson County Center
9:00 – 9:15: Partner Welcome, Southern Fire Exchange/CAFMS Overview, and Why We’re Here: Sarah Cain, Outreach Specialist, Southern Fire Exchange; Lindsey Hosier, Coordinator, Consortium of Appalachian Fire Managers and Scientists, Keai Tilly, County Extension Administrative Assistant Henderson County Extension
9:15 – 10:00: Fire in the Mountains: Why We Do This, How It’s Done: Featuring Adam Warwick, Southern Blue Ridge Fire and Stewardship Manager, The Nature Conservancy
10:00 – 10:15: Break
10:15-10:45: Wildfire Management in Duff Areas: Featuring Jonathan McCall and Ryan Jacobs, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission
10:45 – 11:30: Management Lessons from Restoring Fire to Long-Unburned Areas, Duff Management in Western North Carolina: Featuring Mac Callaham Jr., Ph.D., Acting Director, Southeast Climate Hub, Forest Service Southern Research Station
11:30 – 12:00: Field Site Preview: Why Green River? What has been done? Featuring Armin Weise, Research Assistant, Clemson University
12:00 – 12:15: Morning Wrap-Up, Extra Presentation Questions
12:15-12:45: Lunch (will be provided)
12:45 - 13:15: Travel to Green River Game Lands
13:15 - 16:00: Field Site Visit and Discussion - Green River Game Lands
16:00 - 16:30: Return to Henderson County Extension Center
