The keys to a successful and safe prescribed burn are adequately trained staff, the right equipment, and advanced planning.

Training Requirements

Though there are no statewide minimum training requirements for individuals participating in roadside burns, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) offers training that provides basic information about executing safe prescribed burns.

The minimum recommended training to participate in a prescribed roadside burn is the Introduction to Wildland Fire series that covers the basics of fire behavior and wildfire firefighting techniques, consisting of the following courses:

• NWCG S-130, Firefighter Training (Wildland) Q0900 - S130
• NWCG L-180, Human Factors in the Wildland Fire Service Q0902 - L180
• NWCG S-190, Introduction to Wildland Fire Behavior Q0901 - S190

These courses, totaling 40 hours, are offered online through the Wildland Fire Learning Portal, maintained by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s Wildland Fire Learning Portal Governance Board. An in-person field day is required to receive certification for this training. The Iowa DNR Fire Management Training website includes a calendar with upcoming in-person training days. The website also has an Iowa Annual Fireline Safety Refresher that can be completed online.

Roadside managers and other staff wanting to go beyond the introductory training to add more expertise to the crew conducting prescribed roadside burns can become certified as a Firefighter Type 2 (FFT2). This is also known as “red card” certification, in reference to the card that FFT2s receive, certifying they are qualified to work on wildland fires. For more information on becoming certified, check the Wildland Fire Learning Portal. 

Staffing Requirements

Staffing requirements for roadside burns vary with the conditions at each site; the recommended size of the crew depends on the size and complexity of the burn. As a general rule, two to four qualified people can safely execute most roadside burns. Burning alone or conducting an understaffed burn is not advised. Coordination with other agencies may be necessary if internal staffing is inadequate. Possible collaborators include secondary road maintenance crews, county conservation boards, local fire departments, and other county IRVM programs.

Minimum Suggested Personal Protective Equipment

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) standards vary among agencies. If specific policies are not in place, the following minimum PPE is recommended:

• leather work boots
• gloves
• safety glasses
• clothing made of natural fibers

It is important to communicate information about the purpose and timing of the prescribed burn to adjacent landowners and the public. See Appendix 9A for a sample press release announcing a prescribed burn and Appendix 9B for a sample adjacent landowner notification memo. Additionally, see Appendix 9C for a sample burn site spreadsheet cataloguing controlled burns in the county, Appendix 9D for a sample prescribed burn management plan, and Appendix 8E for a sample weather data report. Typically, the local fire department will require a copy of the prescribed burn plan so it can be prepared in case the fire gets out of hand. Be aware of your local regulations regarding prescribed burns, including any requirements for a permit. 

Roadside Real Talk

Insights from Roadside Managers and Other Professionals

Burning in the ROW can be dangerous and difficult, but it is an important part of the roadside program that should be utilized. Try to minimize smoke over the road and set up work zone flagging if necessary. 
—Joe Kooiker, Story County 2024

Plan for the worst with water and equipment so you’re not underprepared. Roadside burns can be challenging, but when done correctly, they’re not a big deal. It’s an accepted management practice that’s cheaper than spraying and cutting.
—Wes Gibbs, Jones County 2024

Stick with your burn plan. Even if you’ve spent a lot of time getting equipment and personnel to a burn site, if on that day conditions in the field do not meet what was written in your burn plan, do not burn. 
—Linn Reece, Hardin County, 2011

A small test burn at the anchor point will indicate fire and smoke behavior and the feasibility of continuing with the prescribed burn. We use strip head fires to speed up the burn without using a full-blown head fire. It works well with a smaller crew. Multi-use tanks and pumping systems should be thoroughly cleaned inside and out before being used for a new purpose.
—Jon Steege, Fayette County, 2011

We try to vary burn seasons and intervals between burns so we aren’t adversely affecting any one set of desirable species.
—Jim Uthe and James Devig, 2024