Fall is here in North Florida bringing with it respite from the heat and humidity. Thank goodness most of us were spared the worst from Ian.

Hot, caliente, chaud. Did I mention it is hot in North Florida? Too hot to burn? Thank goodness the afternoon thunderstorms have returned to cool things a bit.

I will begin with acknowledging my predecessor, Ben Williams. I feel a bit like John Adams taking over from George Washington: big shoes and all. Ben represents the heart of our association and has been instrumental in every policy, decision and effort made.

On the “burn season” front it’s surely time that we take a hard look at what was accomplished on our individual properties last season. Whether that was burning, herbiciding, fire line installation or some other activity that sets us up for the future, we should be clear in our minds where we stand.

“Description Liability surely weighs on the individual burner’s mind, mostly within the context of where our smoke will go and who/what will be impacted by it.”

Reciprocation, participation, force multiplication and enhanced safety, the first two being fundamentals of a cooperative organization such as NFPBA, the second two being among the positive outcomes of having the first two.

There are lights at the end of the tunnel.

Yes, “lights.”

One of them is bright white, the sort of white typically associated with our emerging from a difficult situation or a trying time.

The coronavirus has presented obstacles to NFPBA’s progress as surely as did the torpedoes (mines) to Admiral Farragut’s. And while our response has been somewhat less than “full speed ahead”, the postponing of our Annual Meeting and other in-person events having been judged as prudent safety measures.

The current very dry conditions, coupled with the unknowns of Covid-19, notwithstanding, I’ll stick by that assessment. Yes.. the dry has left us with not as many opportunities to do good with fire here of late.

There's a small block of 22 year old pines on our place that LouAnn and I have burned 4 times in the last 6 years

As the President of the NFPBA, I was recently musing about our organization and I thought of my parents…

Ignition is an important fire term and that is what this inaugural newsletter is… the starting point for landowners to return fire to the land as a tool for ecosystem maintenance