MPFC History

We've been promoting the safe use of prescribed fire for a couple decades now! Below you can see a timeline of our organization, from its inception to the present. 

Timeline of MI PFC Annual Meetings and Burning Issues

Timeline of MI PFC Annual Meetings and Burning Issues

1999

Creation of the Southern Michigan Prescribed Fire Council

  • November 5th - Initial meeting

  • December 7th - by-laws drafted

 

2000

  • February 4th - Mark Sargent (Michigan Department of Natural Resources) appointed first chairperson and Jim Bruce (Barry/Calhoun Conservation District) appointed first vice-chair

  • August 19th - First Annual Workshop held at Bath High School

 

2001

  • Jack McGowan-Stinski (The Nature Conservancy) appointed chairperson, Kim Herman (MDNR) appointed vice-chair

  • August 3rd-4th - Second Annual Workshop

 

2002

  • Steve Cross (MDNR) appointed chairperson, David Borneman (City of Ann Arbor) appointed vice-chair

  • August 3rd – Third Annual Workshop

 

2003

  • Mark Sargent appointed chairperson

  • September 12th-13th - Fourth Annual Workshop at State Library & Historical Center, Lansing; demonstration prescribed burn at Rose Lake State Game Area

 

2004

  • Dave Borneman (City of Ann Arbor) appointed chairperson, John Lerg appointed vice-chair

  • March 15th-18th – First S130-S190 course held at Edward Lowe Foundation, Cassopolis; 29 students included staff from The Nature Conservancy, Edward Lowe Foundation, Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, Land Conservancy of West Michigan, Michigan Department of Transportation, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, Eaton County Parks & Recreation, National Park Service, Pheasants Forever, Brandon Township and Wheatland Township Fire Departments; Michigan Natural Features Inventory

  • July 14th – Statewide stakeholders meeting to discuss becoming “Michigan Prescribed Fire Council”, by vote the motion was accepted.

    Name changed to Michigan Prescribed Fire Council.

  • September 10th-11th - Fifth Annual Workshop at East Lansing Hannah Community Center; demonstration prescribed burn at Rose Lake State Game Area

 

2005

  • John Lerg (MDNRE) appointed chairperson, Paul Rogers (Kent County Conservation District) appointed vice-chair.

  • February 7th-10th – Second S130-S190 course held at Edward Lowe Foundation, Cassopolis; 32 students included staff from USDA-Forest Service, Edward Lowe Foundation, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, The Nature Conservancy, Michigan Nature Association, several township fire departments and conservation districts

  • September 9th-10th - Sixth Annual Workshop at Kalamazoo Nature Center, site visit and prescribed fire demonstration at Fort Custer Recreation Area

2006

  • Paul Rogers (Kent County Conservation District) appointed chair-person, Jack McGowan-Stinski (The Nature Conservancy) appointed vice-chair.

  • February 13th-17th – First S290-S131 course held at Edward Lowe Foundation, Cassopolis; 24 students included staff from Pizzo & Associates, MDNR-LIP, USDA-Forest Service, USFWS-Private Lands, Edward Lowe Foundation, Ohio State University, The Nature Conservancy, Ann Arbor Parks & Rec., several conservation districts, Michigan Department of Transportation

  • September 8th-9th - Seventh Annual Workshop held in conjunction with the Society of American Foresters, Cadillac

 

2007

  • Paul Rogers (Kent County Conservation District) chairperson, Ulrika Zay (Michigan Department of Transportation-Environmental Section) appointed vice-chair.

  • February 26th-March 2nd – Third S130-S190 course held at Edward Lowe Foundation, Cassopolis; 37 students included staff from Fort Custer Training Center, Michigan Department of Transportation, Kent County Parks, USDA-Forest Service, Edward Lowe Foundation, Kalamazoo Nature Center, and Elkhart County Parks & Rec., The Morton Arboretum, Ottawa County Parks, USDA-NRCS

  • December 3rd-4th - Eighth Annual Workshop held at Shanty Creek with Michigan Association of Conservation Districts

 

2008

  • Ulrika Zay (Michigan Department of Transportation-Environmental Section) appointed chairperson, Jack McGowan-Stinski (The Nature Conservancy) appointed vice-chair.

  • February 25th-18th – Second S290-S131 course held at Edward Lowe Foundation, Cassopolis; 30 students included staff from MDNR, The Nature Conservancy, Eaton County Parks, Grand Valley State University, several conservation districts and township fire departments, Kalamazoo Nature Center, Land Conservancy of West Michigan, Edward Lowe Foundation, Michigan Nature Association

  • September 5th – 6th - Ninth Annual Workshop at Michigan State Library & Historical Center, Lansing; demonstration burn at Lincoln Brick Park (Eaton County Parks & Rec.) was rained out, a “writing a burn plan” workshop was offered

  • October 3rd – Field trip to visit Sleeper Lake Wildfire, Newberry area

  • October 17th-19th, 24th-25th – Fourth S130-S190 course held at Grand Valley State University; 30 students included students from Grand Valley State University and Western Michigan University, staff from The Nature Conservancy, JFNew, MSU-Kellogg Forest, USDA-Forest Service and Kent County Parks

 

2009

  • Don Johnson (Michigan Department of Natural Resources) appointed chairperson, Michele Richards (Fort Custer Training Center) appointed vice-chair.

  • Logo and website redesigned

  • June 5th – Field trip to Barry State Game Area and Yankee Springs Recreation Area to highlight prescribed fire activity by MDNR.

  • August 29th-September 3rd – Provided cadre for Crew Boss Academy hosted by The Nature Conservancy at Fort Custer Training Center, Augusta

  • September 24th-26th - Tenth Annual Meeting held at MDNR RAM Center, Roscommon

 

2010

  • Michele Richards (Fort Custer Training Center) appointed chairperson, Daniel Zay (DLZ Michigan) appointed vice-chair.

  • March 20th – First Field Day provided for students taking S130 online (provided by NWCG); 28 students included staff from Washtenaw County Parks, The Nature Conservancy, Ebersole Environmental Education Center, MDNR, MSU-Kellogg Forest, USDA-NRCS, Leelanau Conservancy, Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy

  • September 10th-11th - Eleventh annual meeting held at Ft. Custer Training Center, Augusta

 

2011

  • Andy Henriksen (USDA-NRCS) appointed chairperson, Jim Fisher (MDNR-FMD) appointed vice-chair, Michele Richards (Fort Custer Training Center) appointed Secretary, Lara Rainbolt (The Nature Conservancy) appointed Treasurer.

  • April 9th – Second Field Day provided for students taking S130 online (provided by NWCG); 21 students included staff from Michigan Nature Association, Native Connections, volunteers for Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy and Kalamazoo Nature Center, and Western Michigan University.

  • September 9th-10th - Twelfth annual meeting held at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, Hastings

 

2012

  • Andy Henriksen (USDA-NRCS) re-appointed chairperson, Jim Fisher (MDNR-FMD) re-appointed vice-chair, Michele Richards (Fort Custer Training Center) re-appointed Secretary, Lara Rainbolt (The Nature Conservancy) appointed Treasurer.

  • October 20th-21st - Kalamazoo Nature Center hosts S-130/190 Field Days.

  • September 5th-6th - Thirteenth annual meeting held at the State Library in Lansing.

2013

  • Andy Henriksen (USDA-NRCS) re-appointed chairperson, Jim Fisher (MDNR-FMD) re-appointed vice-chair, Michele Richards (Fort Custer Training Center) re-appointed Secretary, Lara Rainbolt moves to a new job.

  • September 11th and 12th - Fourteenth Annual Meeting was held at the State Library in Lansing.

2014

  • Jim Fisher (MDNR-FMD) appointed chairperson, Chris Peterson (USFS) appointed vice-chair, Michele Richards (Fort Custer Training Center) re-appointed Secretary, Don Johnson (MDNR) appointed Treasurer.

  • The Fiduciary changed from TNC to the MI Association of Conservation Districts

  • S130/190 Course delivery for Grand Valley State University at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute in August

  • S131/200 Course delivery at Camp Grayling MI National Guard

  • March 10th - Fifteenth Annual Meeting Survey and Wildland Fire Training Needs Assessment

  • September 10th-11th - CANCELLED Annual Meeting was to be held at Camp Grayling

  • October 25th-26th - S130 Field day at Kalamazoo Nature Center – this may have been cancelled?

2015

  • Chris Peterson (US Forest Service) appointed chairperson, Ryan Koziatek (Kalamazoo Nature Center) appointed vice-chair, Michele Richards (Fort Custer Training Center) re-appointed Secretary, Don Johnson (Michigan DNR) appointed Treasurer.

  • January 13th-14th - MPFC participated in and ran the registration/ collected registration fees for the First Annual Burning Issues Workshop (Fort Custer Training Center, Lake State Fire Science Consortium, and Tallgrass Prairie and Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortium). Also MPFC 15th Annual Meeting

  • January - S130/190 Course delivery for Grand Valley State University at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

  • August - S130/190 Course delivery for Grand Valley State University at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

2016

  • Ryan Koziatek (Kalamazoo Nature Center) appointed chairperson, Dan Zay (NRCS-USDA) appointed vice-chair, Michele Richards (Fort Custer Training Center) re-appointed Secretary.

  • January - S290/131 Course delivery for Grand Valley State University at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

  • February 2nd-3rd - Sixteenth Annual Meeting combined with Fire Science Consortium’s and FCTC’s Second Annual Burning Issues Workshop held at FCTC

  • August - S130/190 Course delivery for Grand Valley State University at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

2017

  • Dan Zay (NRCS-USDA) appointed chairperson, Dan Potter (Marsh 'N Meadow Outdoors) appointed vice-chair, Michele Richards (Fort Custer Training Center) re-appointed Secretary, Ryan Koziatek (Kalamazoo Nature Center) appointed Treasurer.

  • January - S130/190 Course delivery for Grand Valley State University at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

  • March 1st-2nd - Seventeenth Annual Meeting combined with Fire Science Consortium’s and FCTC’s Third Annual Burning Issues Workshop held at FCTC

  • August - S130/190 Course delivery for Grand Valley State University at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

2018

  • Dan Potter (Marsh 'N Meadow Outdoors) appointed chairperson, Michele Richards (Fort Custer Training Center) re-appointed Secretary, Ryan Koziatek (Kalamazoo Nature Center) re-appointed Treasurer.

  • January - S290/133 Course delivery for Grand Valley State University at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

  • February 6th-7th - Eighteenth Annual Meeting combined with Fire Science Consortium’s and FCTC’s Fourth Annual Burning Issues Workshop held at FCTC

  • Website redesigned, social media introduced

2019

  • Dave Borneman (Ann Arbor Parks) appointed chairperson, Glenn Palmgren (MDNR) appointed vice-chair, Michele Richards (Fort Custer Training Center) re-appointed Secretary, Paul Mayer (MPFC) appointed treasurer).

  • February 5th-6th - Nineteenth Annual Meeting combined with Fire Science Consortium’s and FCTC’s Fifth Annual Burning Issues Workshop held at FCTC

  • February 28th-March 1st - S130/190 Course held at Fort Custer through MPFC.

  • July 15th-July 19th - S212 Course held at Fort Custer, delivered through Forest Steward’s Guild.

2020

  • Glenn Palmgren (MDNR) appointed chairperson, Andy Vander Yacht (MSU) appointed vice-chair, Michele Richards (Fort Custer Training Center) re-appointed Secretary, Paul Mayer (MPFC) re-appointed treasurer.

  • February 4th-5th - Twentieth Annual Meeting combined with Fire Science Consortium’s and FCTC’s Sixth Annual Burning Issues Workshop held at FCTC

  • February 6th - Interagency Fuels Treatment Decision Support System Workshop held at KNC

  • February 26th - February 27th – S-130/190 Field Day held at FCTC

2021

  • Andy Vander Yacht (MSU) appointed chairperson, Vice-chairperson - Dakota Szczepanski, Michele Richards (Fort Custer Training Center) re-appointed Secretary, Stephanie Diep (Bradshaw) (Kalamazoo Nature Center) as Treasurer and MPFC Administrator.

  • February 2nd-3rd-4th - Twenty-first Annual Meeting combined with Lake States, and Tallgrass Prairie and Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortia, and Seventh Annual Burning Issues Workshop held virtually

  • June 26th - FFT2 NWCG Fire training course at Kalamazoo Nature Center

2022

  • Chairperson (vacant; Andy Vander Yacht (MSU) interim), Vice-chairperson (vacant), Michele Richards (Fort Custer Training Center) re-appointed Secretary, Stephanie Diep (Kalamazoo Nature Center) re-appointed Treasurer and Administrator

  • February 1st & 2nd - Twenty-second Annual Meeting and Eighth Annual Burning Issues Workshop held virtually

  • June 4th - Learn & Burn Public Demonstration at Pierce Cedar Creek Institute

SUBMIT EVENT OR TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES

"An interagency firefighting team aided by a fire drone conducted a highly successful prescribed burn in central Wisconsin on Department of Defense land, April 11. ...Traditionally, there are two main methods for prescribed burns, hand ignition
The FIRST NE-MW Regional Prescribed Fire Science and Management Workshop will be held in Madison, Wisconsin at The Madison Concourse hotel on August 29 – 31, 2023. Sponsored by the Northeast Regional Strategy Committee (NE RSC), a regional org
"The Wildland Fire Leadership Council (WFLC), established in April 2002 by the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to provide an intergovernmental committee to support the implementation and coordination of Federal Fire Management Policy
"Tribal officials from three Chippewa Bands signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the U.S. Forest Service this week to provide for co-stewardship and protection of “treaty-reserved rights under the 1854 Treaty” across the m
Large burn sites in forested areas are ideal for morel mushroom hunting, especially in burned areas where jack, white or red pine once grew. Grassy and other non forest areas are not as likely to produce morels. The MI DNR have put together a map of