This online introductory course offers a clear, engaging introduction to fire ecology. It’s perfect for planners, practitioners, pupils and the public or anyone working with or interested in prescribed fire, wildfire, or ecosystem restoration.
You’ll be introduced to how fire shapes ecosystems, an overview of how to interpret fire effects on vegetation, soils, and fuels, and appreciate why long-term monitoring and adaptive management matter. We also walk through the basics of burn planning and include downloadable handouts, and checklists to support your work on the ground or in the office.
Whether you're new to fire or refreshing your understanding, this course is designed to get you up to speed quickly, clearly, and with information you can use right away.
FREE. Enroll as an individual or batch enroll your team or class.
Some lessons in this course use an avatars, a tool that keeps training accessible, affordable, and easy to update for those studying between shifts, travelling, or working through a busy fire season. The focus is on practical, applied learning that connects directly to fire and ecosystem management.
You’ll see concepts explained visually through avatars, alongside real examples, case studies, and field footage (most I’ve been involved with). This mix keeps the learning experience grounded, credible, and useful, helping you build the knowledge and confidence to apply what you learn to your work and studies.
This course is free, but if you wish to give back, you can show your appreciation by supporting communities affected by wildfire. Fire affects more than ecosystems, it affects people. If this course was useful, consider supporting organizations like The Salvation Army that help communities during and after wildfire.
This course is free. If you wish to show your appreciation, consider supporting communities affected by wildfire.
Fire affects more than ecosystems, it also affects people. If this course was useful, you may choose to support organizations like The Salvation Army that provide direct, local support during and after wildfire.
I’ve spent many years in wildfire operations and have seen firsthand the impact of their work.
I value their connection to community.
CLICK ON THEIR LOGO TO DONATE TO THE SA WILDFIRE EMERGENCY RELIEF
WHAT PARTIPANTS HAD TO SAY
“This is a great Lecture. It's made easy to understand!” – Fire Practitioner from California
“Good course, added context of historical practices and why they are beneficial to forest health.” – Forester from Saskatchewan
“A terrific resource. I don't come from a fire ecology background, but I found this course to be easy to follow and really interesting. I recommend it for anyone in the Disaster Risk Management field to have a better understanding of the value of cultural and proscribed burns. I'm sure I'll refer back to it many times.” – Disaster and Risk Management Participant in BC
“The program condenses, in a very short period of time, all the essential knowledge related to wildland fire burning conditions and introduces you seamlessly to the field of prescribed burning in the best possible way. Congratulations!” – Fire Lieutenant from Greece
“Succinct, well-laid-out overview of fire ecology and using prescribed fire. Great teaser to learn more.” – Industry Forester in BC
“GREAT course! I like that it explains each part of the burn plan and why you are gathering data and information. That through Cultural perspectives this data will be carried on and passed to the next practitioner so that the goals and objectives of the Treatment area will always have historical data and can be compared over many years to see how the ecosystem has changed good or bad the burn plan can adapt for what change happens for future burns.” – Fire Keeper from BC
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