Certified Prescribed Fire Manager (CPFM) program
The South Carolina Forestry Commission offers Certified Prescribed Fire Manager training, registration for which is now available online only. This season’s slate of classes is posted below. The registration fee is $75, and applications are accepted on a first-come-first-served basis. Each session will begin at 8:30 a.m. and close by 5 p.m. with an administered test. The deadline for registration is three weeks prior to the course. Details regarding locations will be mailed two weeks prior to each session.
| Date & location | Online registration link |
|---|---|
| October 19 Walterboro | https://sc.accessgov.com/scfc-events/Forms/Page/scfc-events/event-registration?eventId=DB76BBD9C3 |
| November 16 Florence | https://sc.accessgov.com/scfc-events/Forms/Page/scfc-events/event-registration?eventId=9F0AD7FB55 |
| December 7 Columbia | https://sc.accessgov.com/scfc-events/Forms/Page/scfc-events/event-registration?eventId=B703EB6338 |
| January 7 Columbia | https://sc.accessgov.com/scfc-events/Forms/Page/scfc-events/event-registration?eventId=BDBD041932 |
The one-day course teaches managers how to plan prescribed burns that comply with SC Smoke Management Guidelines, which are mandatory for all forestry, wildlife and agricultural burning in South Carolina. The course is not intended to teach individuals how to burn, but rather how to manage smoke from prescribed fires under these regulations and create awareness of legal issues associated with outdoor burning. CPFM certification, which can reduce the liability for those conducting outdoor burning, requires that an individual complete this training, pass a written exam, and document one’s burning experience.
Reference materials
- Smoke management guidelines
- Fuel load estimation guide
- Intro to prescribed fire in southern ecosystems
- SCFC forest law handbook
If you have further questions, please contact SCFC Training & Safety Manager Stephen Polk at SPolk@scfc.gov or (803) 896-8810.