More Than A Drip Torch and A Lighter
More Than A Drip Torch and A Lighter
Burn Unit 10
Written by: Paxton Caroline Hayes
Photos taken by: Lou Bean (find Lou on IG)
Location: Hard Labor Creek State Park, Rutledge, GA
Georgia’s Fire Academy
The first week of January I attended Georgia's Fire Academy, an immersive learning experience for professional fire practitioners in Georgia. During the three-day academy, we did everything fire-related from taking the pack test, to learning how to use wildland fire gear, to working as a burn team to conduct a prescribed fire. This January was Georgia’s largest ever wildland Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2) graduating class, with over thirty students receiving certifications.
While the classroom and field instruction was invaluable, there is more to this academy than just checking boxes in order to qualify for your red card. This is an opportunity to connect with others working in fire and develop a greater understanding of the depth of knowledge found within the fire community. If I learned anything, it was that there is no one path to being a firefighter or firelighter.
There were instructors and students from major state partner
Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources and a variety of nonprofit organizations and universities. UGA’s Seed Laboratory, as part of the
State Botanical Garden of Georgia, sent people to learn how to use fire for seed germination and reseeding of native species.
The Nature Conservancy was able to speak about using drones for aerial ignition and developing a deeper understanding of fire as a conservation tool. I got the chance to speak about policy and program implementation (what I studied in school!) with a woman from
Texas A&M who came to Georgia to further her understanding of how our prescribed fire program has grown in the past decade. One of my fellow students, a professional fire performer, had just moved here from Michagan to work with fire in a different professional capacity.
Shameless shout-out to my fellow Blue Squad students, minion cadre, cadre, and instructors. Y’all made these three days endlesslessly memorable and challenged me to be a better professional. From Colorado to the mountains and coasts of Georgia, I wish you all the best. Go Blue!
What this means for SCT
So, what does my wildland FFT2 certification mean for the future of prescribed fire at SCT? While we are still working out the details, you can expect to see the We Didn’t Start the Fire blog series continue. With the help of the Georgia Forestry Commission this year, we are going to be conducting our first prescribed fire at Morgan Grove soon. We are hoping to have the resources to put fire on the ground there every 12-18 months, to encourage the native-rich and fire-adapted habitat that spans across the Georgia Piedmont. For this and other fire-related initiatives, prime your drip torches… more to come!
This year is just the test fire
When I attended my first Learn and Burn in February 2025, I was not expecting to catch the Fire Bug. I could not have anticipated how alive I felt with a drip torch in my hand or watching the fire crawl across the landscape, igniting nutrient and growth cycles with its apparent destruction. That day, I watched the science of prescribed fire turn into art on the landscape and it changed my career trajectory. I studied the textbooks, I talked to respected practitioners in the field, and I itched to get back on a burn.
When I started this blog post series six months later in July, I had gotten back on the fire line and also begun participating in site-prep days with the Georgia DNR. I knew I had stumbled upon something that I wanted to share with people. I was hesitant to share my journey in such a public way, but with the support of my colleagues I started writing
We Didn’t Start the Fire. I was nervous to be so vulnerable with my interests, especially as someone who has taken a non-traditional pathway into this field. Instead, I began to see my joy and excitement reflected in others.
Just weeks shy of a year after my first official prescribed fire, I was able to attend Georgia’s Fire Academy. Yes, I received a cool, official certification for wildland firefighting (and I am proud of that!). But, more than that, I got to meet interesting people who challenged me to learn more and to encourage others to learn alongside me. This past year was just the test fire. Join me as we set fire (responsibly) to the landscape of our futures.
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About Southern Conservation Trust
At Southern Conservation Trust, we are passionate about elevating nature through exceptional stewardship. Based in Georgia, our 501(c)(3) public charity has successfully conserved over 65,000 acres of land across the Southeast, including five public nature areas in Fayette County and the Fayette Environmental Education Center. We believe that protecting our natural spaces is just the beginning; everyone should have equal access to enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. Join us in our mission to foster a deeper connection between people and nature. Learn more at www.sctlandtrust.org.
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