DOI: 10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvsr
title: Data from: Burning from the ground up: The structure and function of Prescribed Burn Associations in the United States

description: To combat losses and threats from fire exclusion and extreme wildfire
 events, communities in the United States are increasingly self-organizing
 through locally led Prescribed Burn Associations (PBAs) to plan and
 implement prescribed burns on private lands. Our study aimed to document
 the expansion of PBAs and provide insight into their structure, function,
 and impacts. Leaders from 135 known PBAs across the United States were
 invited to participate in an online survey. Survey results demonstrate a
 widespread emergence of PBAs in the United States, successfully mobilizing
 thousands of volunteers to collectively burn more than 34,000 ha annually.
 PBAs demonstrated that they are reducing myriad barriers to prescribed
 burning while meeting their goals to broaden access to the use of fire
 using a neighbors-helping-neighbors model to provide training, pool
 resources, and reduce the costs of prescribed burning. By including
 volunteers with diverse levels of experience and backgrounds, PBAs are
 changing the narrative of who has access to the use of fire. The
 adaptability of the PBA model to local contexts provides an alternative
 model of community-led, non-agency- based fire management critical to
 advancing the pace and scale of restoration needed in fire- adapted
 ecosystems.
description: A national online survey of PBA leaders across 135 known PBAs in
 the US was distributed via email in the fall of 2023. The survey questions
 were designed to gather information on PBA formation, coverage area,
 annual burn accomplishments, membership, organizational structure,
 funding, training, and more. In addition to questions that utilized a
 likert scale, the survey included open-ended questions where respondents
 could provide more in-depth insights. A pilot survey was sent to
 twenty-nine PBA and survey experts for content validity and to gather
 feedback to ensure the questions were clear and well-organized. Ten
 responses with feedback were received and edits to the final survey were
 made accordingly.  The email distribution list was
 created from the information found within the data fields of a national
 online map, which is updated regularly based on submissions from PBA
 leaders, as well as contacts provided on PBA websites, state PBA
 organizations, and personal connections with the authors. The survey
 targeted PBA leaders, with only one response requested per individual PBA.
 The survey followed the basic tenets of Dillman’s Tailored Design Method
 and was designed to be distributed, completed, and returned
 electronically. Members were given five weeks to complete the survey, with
 two additional reminder emails sent in the interim. The survey closed in
 early November 2023. The authors also hosted an informational
 webinar/meeting to provide details on survey intent and timeline. For PBAs
 in which duplicate responses were recorded, only the most thorough
 response was kept. In total, 75 PBA leaders responded to the survey,
 representing a response rate of 56%.  Data processing
 and analyses were completed using R v4.3.1 in RStudio v2023.6.1.524 with
 the Tidyverse, FSA, and ggstatsplot packages.
description: # 2023 National Prescribed Burn Association Survey
 [https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvsr](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.hdr7sqvsr) ## Description of the data and file structure 2023 National Prescribed Burn Association Survey File name:2023_National-PBA-Survey-Results_De-Identified.csv * Includes de-identified data collected from survey File name: Analysis Script.R * R script used to analysis results from National PBA Survey for publishing. ### Files and variables #### File: 2023\_National-PBA-Survey-Results\_De-Identified.csv \**Description:**Each column in the 2023_National-PBA-Survey-Results_De-Identified.csv refers to a question asked within the survey (described below). Missing values are indicated as "NA". ##### Variables * ResponseId: Unique Data Identifier * Q2: State Prescribed Burn Association (PBA) is located in * REGION: Geographic region PBA is located assigned based on state * Q4:In what year was your PBA first formed? * Q5:Has the PBA coverage area ever changed since your PBA was first formed? (select all that apply) * Q5_6_TEXT: Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q5 * Q54:Why did the change in coverage area occur? * Q6:Thinking about the past 5 years (or since your PBA was formed if less than 5 years), how many burns did your PBA conduct each year on average? * Q7:Thinking about the past 5 years (or since your PBA was formed if less than 5 years), how many acres did your PBA burn each year on average? * Q8:Which of the following best describes your incorporation status? * Q8_6_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q8 * Q9:Organization structure varies across PBAs. Which of the following does your PBA have? (select all that apply) * Q9_5_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other guiding organizational document(s) or agreement(s)" selection in Q9 * Q10:Do you have a paid leadership/coordinator position(s)? (select all that apply) * Q10_5_TEXT: Open-ended response to "Other paid position(s) (please specify type and how many)" selection in Q10 * Q10_6_TEXT: Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q10 * Q11:How is membership defined? Please indicate which items are required for individuals to be considered a member of the PBA. (select all that apply) * Q11_2_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Participate in burns on someone else's property (please specify how many burns)" selection in Q11 * Q11_4_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Must go through some form of training (please specify)" selection in Q11 * Q11_1_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Pay membership dues (please specify the amount $ and frequency, i.e., annually, bi-annually, once, etc.)" selection in Q11 * Q11_7_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q11 * Q12:How many members does your PBA have? If you are unsure, please select your best guess. * Q13:Which of the following statements are true regarding how your PBA handles the costs of a burn? (select all that apply) * Q13_4_TEXT:Open-ended response to "We charge an acreage fee (please specify the amount $ per acre)" selection in Q13 * Q13_5_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q13 * Q14:What are the requirements for people to participate in a burn on someone elses property? (select all that apply) * Q14_6_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q14 * Q15:What training and qualification requirements does your PBA have for people to participate in a burn? (select all that apply) * Q15_3_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other NWCG courses or qualifications (please specify)" selection in Q15 * Q15_5_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q15 * Q16:Thinking back to your PBA's initial creation, which of the following do you consider the MOST critical elements that contributed to establishing your PBA? (select up to THREE) * Q16_8_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q16 * Q17:Which of the following do you consider the MOST important for sustaining your PBA long-term? (select up to THREE) * Q17_8_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q17 * Q18:Which of the following do you consider to be the MOST IMPORTANT actions(s) for your PBA to be doing? (select up to THREE) * Q18_19_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q18 * Q19_1:How successful would you consider your PBA in meeting the three goals you selected above? - Act as a liaison with agencies/cooperators/regulators * Q19_2:How successful would you consider your PBA in meeting the three goals you selected above? - Broaden access to the use of prescribed fire as a management tool * Q19_3:How successful would you consider your PBA in meeting the three goals you selected above? - Increase public acceptance and understanding of prescribed fire * Q19_4:How successful would you consider your PBA in meeting the three goals you selected above? - Maximize acres burned/number of burns * Q19_5:How successful would you consider your PBA in meeting the three goals you selected above? - Provide classroom/online education * Q19_6:How successful would you consider your PBA in meeting the three goals you selected above? - Provide field-based training * Q19_7:How successful would you consider your PBA in meeting the three goals you selected above? - Provide social networking opportunities for members * Q19_8:How successful would you consider your PBA in meeting the three goals you selected above? - Provide tools and equipment for burns * Q19_9:How successful would you consider your PBA in meeting the three goals you selected above? - Secure funding for burn implementation, equipment, and/or staff time * Q19_10:How successful would you consider your PBA in meeting the three goals you selected above? - Other (please specify) * Q19_10_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q19_10 * Q20:What types of training and education does your PBA provide for members? (select all that apply) * Q20_12_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q20 * Q21:Which of the following topics are most commonly requested by your members for training and educational activities? (select all that apply) * Q21_10_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q21 * Q22:On average, if you exclude actual burning events, how many additional educational and training events does your PBA provide annually? * Q23:Which of the following would you be MOST interested in to learn from OTHER PBAs? (select all that apply) * Q23_8_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q23 * Q24:What are the primary objectives of your PBA burns? (select up to THREE) * Q24_8_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q24 * Q25:What are the requirements for a prescribed burn to be conducted with assistance from the PBA? (select all that apply) * Q25_7_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q25 * Q26_1:Have you faced any of the following challenges with your PBA? - Lack of agency cooperation * Q26_2:Have you faced any of the following challenges with your PBA? - Lack of funding and/or equipment * Q26_3:Have you faced any of the following challenges with your PBA? - Landowners who want their land burned but are unable to volunteer their time * Q26_4:Have you faced any of the following challenges with your PBA? - Not able to burn complex fuel types and units * Q26_5:Have you faced any of the following challenges with your PBA? - Not enough active participation by members on burns * Q26_6:Have you faced any of the following challenges with your PBA? - PBA leadership at or above their capacity * Q26_7:Have you faced any of the following challenges with your PBA? - Prepping units, installing fire breaks * Q26_8:Have you faced any of the following challenges with your PBA? - Regulatory requirements (permitting, air quality, etc) * Q26_9:Have you faced any of the following challenges with your PBA? - Risk/liability concerns by landowners or cooperators * Q26_10:Have you faced any of the following challenges with your PBA? - Too few burn windows due to weather * Q26_11:Have you faced any of the following challenges with your PBA? - Too few experienced burners to assist on burns * Q26_12:Have you faced any of the following challenges with your PBA? - Other (please specify) * Q26_12_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q26_12 * Q27:How do you currently fund/support the PBA's work? (select all that apply) * Q27_6_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Grants/donations from private entities or businesses (please specify funder(s))" selection in Q27 * Q27_4_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Federal Grants (please specify funder(s))" selection in Q27 * Q27_3_TEXT:Open-ended response to "State Grants (please specify funder(s))" selection in Q27 * Q27_7_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q27 * Q29:What resources do you wish your PBA had if more funding were available? (select up to THREE) * Q29_8_TEXT:Open-ended response to "Other (please specify)" selection in Q29 * Q30_1:How often does PBA leadership complete each of the following tasks? - Burn planning * Q30_2:How often does PBA leadership complete each of the following tasks? - Preparing the burn unit * Q30_3:How often does PBA leadership complete each of the following tasks? - Coordinating burn logistics (equipment, volunteers, etc.) * Q30_4:How often does PBA leadership complete each of the following tasks? - Leading the burn as the burn boss * Q30_5:How often does PBA leadership complete each of the following tasks? - Mop-up and patrol * Q31_1:How important or unimportant has support from each of the following groups been to your PBA? - Fire department * Q31_2:How important or unimportant has support from each of the following groups been to your PBA? - State fire suppression agency * Q31_3:How important or unimportant has support from each of the following groups been to your PBA? - Federal agency * Q31_4:How important or unimportant has support from each of the following groups been to your PBA? - University Cooperative Extension * Q31_5:How important or unimportant has support from each of the following groups been to your PBA? - Non-profit organizations * Q33:If key leaders of your PBA left, how would the PBA continue? (select all that apply)