Plumas Underburn Cooperative

Our local prescribed fire capacity-building training

Form, storm, norm, and perform. These are the steps it takes to become a team. In the TREX burning model, fire practitioners need to become a team quickly in order to be effective, efficient, and safe.

Plumas Cal-TREX (Prescribed Fire Training Exchange) was established in 2020 as a way to build local prescribed fire capacity while training the next generation of prescribed fire practitioners. We bring people from Northern California, the Western U.S., and the greater fire community together to share knowledge, engage in teambuilding activities, conduct prescribed burns, and much more. Each spring, 60-70 practitioners descend upon Plumas County, some local, some from out of the area. In 2023 there were people from over 30 organizations in attendance!

The application form for 2024 Plumas Cal-TREX has closed

Dates: April 29 – May 4th, 2024 (our core week of training)
Location: Greenville, CA
Apply HERE. Applications close March 1st.
Cost: $175 (scholarships available)

What is TREX? TREX stands for Training Exchange. It is an annual event that we hold here in Plumas County to train local fire practitioners on different aspects of prescribed fire. This could include pump operation, hand tool usage, language we use on the fireline, smoke management, burn plan writing, permitting, approaches to thinning, restoration, and more. There are many other TREX that occur throughout the US, but in ours we cover specific topics related to implementing prescribed fire in Plumas County, CA.

2024 Event Structure:

OPTIONAL
April 28th: RT-130 (Fireline Refresher) and Arduous Work Capacity Test (Pack Test).

CORE TREX EVENT
April 29th – May 4th: 6 days straight of learning, networking, hands-on training, and hopefully live fire if weather allows.

ONGOING
Spring and summer 2024: On-call burning opportunities to help support the Forest Service, PBAs, and other types of prescribed burning.

OPTIONAL
Later in the spring and summer 2024: Potential NWCG and other non-standardized fire course offerings.

The event fee will cover campsites, food, and training costs for one week:

Camping
The campsite will have potable water, outdoor showers, porta-potties, and sites for tent camping. You must bring your own camping gear. See our suggested packing list here.

Food
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided. We recommend you bring your own supplementary snacks or non-perishable food items if you think you will need them. There is no refrigeration available on-site.

Burning opportunities

Burning opportunities will be prioritized during the Core TREX Event (April 29 – May 4th), based on local weather conditions. Participants should expect the potential of no live fire if weather is unfavorable. There will be training activities throughout the week, even if no live fire occurs. You do not need fireline qualifications to participate in the TREX. However:

If an opportunity to burn with the Plumas National Forest arises, only folks with Wildland Firefighter Type II (FFT2) qualifications, or equivalent will be able to attend. FFT2 equivalence is as follows: completed NWCG courses S-130, S-190, L-180; FEMA courses IS-100 and IS-700; and current Pack Test and RT-130. Need clarification? Email Logan.
If private lands burning opportunities arise, TREX attendees will be able to attend regardless of certifications or qualifications, unless the landowner asks practitioners to have minimum certs mentioned above.
On-call burning opportunities will be available after the core TREX week through partner organizations.

Please spread the word to anyone you think would be interested!

We will be able to support up to 50 participants. Applications will be considered from anyone that applies, but preference will go to Plumas County residents first and foremost.

Full or partial scholarships are available courtesy of Healthy Forest Alliance and Rich Carvalho! If you do not think you can afford the $175, please apply and we will figure out ways to offset costs through scholarships or otherwise.

Please email Logan Krahenbuhl (Incident Coordinator) or Hannah Hepner (Plans Section Chief) with any questions!

The National TREX program was started in 2008 in order to promote “the spread of effective cooperative burning—helping diverse partners leverage skills, resources and staff in ways that maximize opportunities for outreach, treatment and training” as a partnership between The Nature Conservancy and USDA Forest Service. Learn more about TREX here.

Each year the national TREX program reaching more communities, practitioners, and organizations. Plumas Cal-TREX is organized by people from 10 different organizations, allowing us to educate participants on many facets of land management and how they can integrate prescribed fire. Many of the same folks assist and coordinate the fall Butte Cal-TREX, our sister event.