Indiana Prescribed Fire Opportunity Sharing Network
The Indiana Prescribed Fire Council is piloting a voluntary network that helps connect people seeking experience toward the Indiana Certified Prescribed Burn Manager (CPBM) certification with experienced prescribed fire practitioners offering opportunities.
This network is: 1) voluntary, 2) not a guarantee of opportunities, 3) not a requirement of the CPBM program, and 4) not a public list.
Instead, the pilot creates a formalized, structured way to connect people seeking prescribed fire experience with experienced practitioners.
How does it work?
Those willing to offer prescribed fire experiences (Mentors) and those looking for experience (Mentees/Apprentices) fill out separate surveys with questions regarding:
- Mentors
- Their experience, certifications, and willingness to offer mentorship opportunities
- Mentees/Apprentices
- Their experience, training, and experience needs
Program administrators then use the submitted information to help identify potential matches. The information is not shared publicly; rather, program administrators share potential matches.
How to get involved?
Mentors and mentees can fill out the respective surveys below:
What does participation mean?
Mentors
- Opt in voluntarily
- Set your own boundaries around experiences offered
- Receive introductions when appropriate matches are identified
- Retain full control over how and when you offer opportunities
Participating does not obligate you to accept mentees, offer additional opportunities, or change your existing burning practices.
Mentees
- Indicate your location and willingness to travel
- Indicate your current training and certification
- Indicate your experience needs
- May be contacted for potential mentorship opportunities
- Decide if you want to follow up on opportunities
Participation does not guarantee you opportunities, but it formalizes a way for opportunities to be offered.
Why Mentorship Matters
Mentorship within the prescribed fire community is important because it:
- Reduced barriers to finding prescribed fire experiences needed for CPBM certification
- Expands the pool of future CPBMs
- Increases the pool of knowledgeable and experienced prescribed fire practitioners
- Supports safer, broader, and effective prescribed fire use in Indiana
Voluntary involvement in the sharing network helps to promote the safe and effective use of prescribed fire across Indiana, increases access to this vital tool, and expands opportunities to become certified as a CPBM.