ANREP Members Share Extension Programs with International Audience at the Smoke Symposium

David Godwin, Ph.D., University of Florida
Jennifer Fawcett, Ph.D., North Carolina State University

During the week of March 23–27, 2026, more than 230 researchers, fire managers, and outreach specialists from around the world gathered at Tall Timbers Research Station in Tallahassee, Florida, and online for the 4th International Smoke Symposium. The in-person event was held at the brand-new Leigh Perkins Conservation Education Center on the historic Tall Timbers campus and brought professionals together for four days of learning, discussion, and networking focused on wildland fire smoke, air quality, public health, firefighter safety, and prescribed fire.

ANREP members and National Extension Wildland Fire Initiative (NEWFI) steering committee members Jennifer Fawcett, Ph.D., of North Carolina State University, and David Godwin, Ph.D., of the University of Florida, delivered a joint presentation describing how NEWFI and the Southern Fire Exchange have connected prescribed fire smoke science resources with Extension professionals across the United States. Their presentation highlighted collaborative efforts to engage Extension audiences on prescribed fire smoke through in-person and online events in Florida, North Carolina, and California. Godwin and Fawcett, challenged the attendees to look to Cooperative Extension as a key partner and resource for connecting smoke and air quality research with communities across the country.

Godwin and Fawcett also represented the Southern Fire Exchange and the Southeastern Partnership for Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS) Prescribed Fire Working Group, presenting updates at the associated meeting of the 8th Southeast Prescribed Fire, Smoke, and Air Quality Summit (Smoke Summit). The semiannual Smoke Summit brings together southeastern state air quality regulators, state prescribed fire program managers, and regional partners for several days of collaboration, strategizing, and networking in support of the sustainable use of prescribed fire and the protection of public health and air quality.

A highlight of the week was a post-reception wagon tour of the Stoddard Prescribed Fire Plots at Tall Timbers, which included an opportunity to observe a live prescribed fire (see photo). For many attendees, this was their first experience with prescribed fire and a memorable component of the conference program.