Carrie Berger

Fire Program Manager

541-737-7524

[email protected]

Expertise: Fire

Programs: Fire Program

Links: http://extensionweb.forestry.oregonstate.edu/fireprogram

Department/Unit: Forestry and Natural Resources Extension

Content
Publications
Awards

Content by Carrie Berger

Prescribed fire basics: Liability in Oregon

In rare cases, prescribed fire may lead to damages. Landowners can take precautions to reduce the chances of fire escaping and causing harm.

Jordon N. Lindsey, Ariel Cowan, Kasey Johnson, Dan Leavell, Amy Markus, Jason Pettigrew, Jillian Pihulak, John Punches, John Rizza, Jenessa Stemke, Carrie Berger | Sep 2024 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Managing Oregon's westside landscapes with fire in mind

As wildfires become more frequent and intense, managing landscapes in Oregon's westside regions is crucial for both beauty and safety. The Oregon State University Extension provides key strategies for balancing fire risk reduction ...

Glenn Ahrens, Carrie Berger, Kayla Bordelon, Stephen Fitzgerald, Lauren Grand, Aaron Groth, John Punches | Aug 2024 | Collection Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Managing Willamette Valley margin forests with fire in mind

Explore strategies to enhance fire resilience in the drier, mixed-severity fire-prone forests of Oregon's Willamette Valley margin. The brief emphasizes the importance of reducing fuel loads, creating defensible spaces ...

Glenn Ahrens, Carrie Berger | Aug 2024 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Managing coastal fog belt forests with fire in mind

This brief discusses how to enhance fire resilience in Oregon's coastal fog belt forests, which are prone to high-intensity fires under extreme conditions. It explores management strategies like creating defensible ...

Aaron Groth, Carrie Berger | Aug 2024 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Managing Northwest Oregon oak ecosystems with fire in mind

This brief explains how oak ecosystems in Northwest Oregon depend on fire for maintenance and regeneration. It outlines methods for reintroducing fire and managing vegetation to reduce fire risk and enhance ...

Lauren Grand, Carrie Berger | Aug 2024 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Managing Douglas-fir–western hemlock forests of the Coast Range and Western Cascades with fire in mind

This brief provides strategies for increasing fire resilience in these forest types. It emphasizes protecting structures through home hardening, creating defensible spaces, utilizing strategic fuel breaks and fostering ...

Kayla Bordelon, Stephen Fitzgerald, Carrie Berger, Aaron Groth | Aug 2024 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Managing Oregon's West Cascades' high-elevation forests with fire in mind

This brief focuses on strategies for reducing wildfire risk in Oregon's high-elevation Cascade forests, which experience varied fire behaviors due to their unique climate, vegetation, and human activities. It emphasizes ...

John Punches, Carrie Berger | Aug 2024 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Fire-resistant plants for home landscapes

Make your landscape more fire resistant by choosing and placing fire-resistant plants on your property. Visit a nursery with Paula Lupcho, OSU Master Gardener and Firewise Gardening expert, and Carrie Berger, OSU Extension Fire Program Manager, to know more.

Carrie Berger | Jul 2024 | Video Peer reviewed (Gray level)

OSU Extension Fire Program celebrates four years of impactful outreach

In addition to hosting more than two dozen webinars that have been viewed by thousands of people, in the last four years the program has facilitated community preparedness partnerships and landscape planning processes.

Francesca Lear | May 31, 2024 | News story

Stories of fire: Resources for media covering wildfire events and topics in Oregon

Stories of Fire was created for media covering wildfires and related topics in Oregon with a broad goal to increase mutual learning between Oregon journalists and fire scientists to improve science-based coverage of wildfire events and issues.

Emily Jane Davis, Hollie Smith, Christopher Adlam, Carrie Berger, Dan Morrison | Sep 2023 | Publication Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Our Future in Our Hands

Reduce the impact a wildfire might have on you and your community.

Carrie Berger, Kara Baylog, Aaron Groth, Emily Jane Davis, Dusti Linnell, Oralia Mendez | Aug 2023 | Collection Peer reviewed (Gray level)

Our Future in Our Hands: Prepare Your Home

The future of our families, homes and communities facing potential wildfires in Oregon is in our hands. Learn how you can prepare your home with simple actions before a wildfire strikes.

Aaron Groth, Carrie Berger, Emily Jane Davis, Kara Baylog | Jun 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Our Future in Our Hands: Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke

Learn how to minimize and prevent the harmful effects of wildfire smoke on your body. This publication is part of the series, Our Future in Our Hands.

Carrie Berger, Kara Baylog | May 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Our Future in Our Hands: Make a Plan

Our Future in Our Hands: Make a Plan details what steps you can take to be prepared for when a wildfire strikes. This publication is part of the Our Future in Our Hands series.

Carrie Berger, Kara Baylog | May 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Forestry & Natural Resources Extension Fire Program: 2022 Impact Report

The Extension Fire Program uses education, outreach, and boundary spanning partnerships to foster the resiliency of communities and landscapes to wildfire at scale. Learn more!

Carrie Berger, Emily Jane Davis | May 2023 | Publication

Prescribed Fire Basics: Safety

Prescribed fire, like any fire, entails risk. To stay safe, wear Personal Protective Equipment, take steps to prevent heat exhaustion, use the right tools and follow the burn plan. Here are more tips to keep you safe on the ground.

Carrie Berger, John Rizza | Apr 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Prescribed Fire Basics: Fire Weather

Weather affects nearly every aspect of a prescribed burn. Weather is a matter of safety for those staffing the burn and the public. Understanding fire weather helps practitioners manage smoke and comply with regulations.

Aaron Groth, Steve Fanis, Emily Jane Davis, Carrie Berger | Jun 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Prescribed Fire Basics: Fuels

Prescribed fire focuses on addressing the overabundance of fuels on the ground. Fuels can include grass, leaf litter, sticks, shrubs and trees. Along with weather and topography, fuel is one of the key factors ...

Ariel Cowan, Christopher Adlam, Carrie Berger | Jun 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Prescribed Fire Basics: Ignition Techniques and Tools

The right ignition technique will ensure that a prescribed fire meets objectives. Fuel, weather conditions, resources and topography are all part of the ignition plan. The plan calls for specific techniques, firing patterns and tools.

John Rizza, Carrie Berger | Jun 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Prescribed Fire Basics: Monitoring and Evaluation

Prescribed fires are used to achieve specific goals. Monitoring and evaluation ensure that the burn plan is followed and its goals are met.

Christopher Adlam, Ariel Cowan, Carrie Berger | Jun 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Fire FAQs—Have the size and severity of forest wildfires increased in Oregon and across the West?

Presents research findings from the last ten years on the patterns of fire sizes since the 1980s. One in a series of fire FAQs that are based on questions Forest & Natural Resource Extension agents and ...

Max Bennett, Stephen Fitzgerald, Dan Leavell, Carrie Berger | Oct 2022 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Forestry & Natural Resources Extension Fire Program: 2021 Impact Report

The Extension Fire Program uses education, outreach, and boundary spanning partnerships to foster the resiliency of communities and landscapes to wildfire at scale. Learn more!

Carrie Berger, Emily Jane Davis | May 2022 | Educational document

Episode 20: Fire Adapted Communities

In this episode, Lauren Grand is joined by Carrie Berger & Emily Jane Davis to discuss how communities can be better prepared for wildfires.

Lauren Grand, Carrie Berger, Emily Jane Davis | May 2022 | Podcast episode

Episode 19: OSU Extension Fire Program Team

In this episode, Lauren Grand gets to know the members of the OSU Extension Fire Program.

Lauren Grand, Aaron Groth, Carrie Berger, Ariel Cowan, Katherine Wollstein, Christopher Adlam, John Rizza, Emily Jane Davis | May 2022 | Podcast episode

Smoke Ready Oregon: Preparing for Wildfire Smoke (Recorded)

When smoke fills the air during a wildfire event, do you know how to protect yourself and your family? Learn about smoke impacts to health, the air quality index, and simple steps you can do right now to reduce your risk from smoke exposure.

Carrie Berger, Lauren Kraemer | Apr 2022 | Video

Episode 5: Fire

In this episode, Carrie Berger is joined by David Lewis and Amanda Rau to talk all things fire - including what is it, how it's used, and its benefits.

Carrie Berger, Amanda Rau, David G. Lewis | Mar 2022 | Podcast episode

Fire Behavior

Fire behavior is a function of available fuel, site topography and weather. People who practice prescribed burning take all these elements into account to achieve the objectives of the burn.

John Rizza, Christopher Adlam, Carrie Berger | Feb 2022 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

The Ecological Effects of Fire

Fire alters landscapes, plant communities, animal habitat, and even water and soil. Fire can sometimes be a force for good, boosting species diversity and ecological resilience. Examine how fire suppression and climate change are altering the ecological effects of fire.

Christopher Adlam, Carrie Berger | Jun 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Prescribed Fire: Why We Burn

Prescribed burning is the practice of intentional burning to obtain specific results. People practice prescribed fire to improve habitat, improve the health of forests and rangelands, and to reduce wildfire risk. ...

Christopher Adlam, Carrie Berger | Feb 2022 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Planning a Prescribed Burn

Prescribed burning practitioners follow a detailed burn plan that spells out objectives and ways to achieve them safety. Burn plans cover equipment, site preparation, smoke management, contingencies, communication and cleanup.

John Rizza, Christopher Adlam, Dan Leavell, Jacob Putney, Carrie Berger | Jun 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Managing a Prescribed Burn

Carrying out a prescribed burn takes careful planning. A detailed burn plan lays out objectives and how to achieve them. Before putting fire on the ground, conduct briefings and test fires. Once the burn begins,...

John Rizza, Amanda Rau, Carrie Berger | Jun 2023 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Smoke Management

Prescribed burns are an important tool in preventing wildfires, but the smoke they produce can be more than just a nuisance. Besides reducing visibility, smoke can affect the health and safety of firefighters and...

Amanda Rau, Stephen Fitzgerald, Emily Jane Davis, Carrie Berger | Feb 2022 | Extension Catalog publication Peer reviewed (Orange level)

Prescribed fire training builds foundation for effective landscape restoration

OSU Extension's controlled burning curriculum, modeled after practices used by Indigenous peoples for millenia, supports wildlife habitat and plays an important part in the traditions, culture and sovereignty of tribes.

Kym Pokorny | Jan 14, 2022 | News story

Prescribed Fire Trainings Benefit Communities and Landscapes

The use of prescribed fire is a critical tool in both range and forest land management. OSU Extension and partners got together to provide prescribed burning awareness, education and training. The prescribed fire training gives ...

Emily Jane Davis, Carrie Berger, Amanda Rau, Andrew Owen, Tom Synder | Jan 2022 | Video

When Wildfire Hits: One Community's Journey to Recovery (Recorded)

Planning and preparing for wildfire can feel like a massive endeavor. What can we do? Who can help? How do we continue to build wildfire adapted and prepared communities? Every community is unique; however, you are not alone....

Carrie Berger | Oct 2021 | Video

Fire Aware. Fire Prepared. Resource Packet

Oregon State University’s Forestry & Natural Resources Extension along with state and local agencies and community partners, want to help Oregonians prepare for the reality of wildfire and have created a resources packet that will help get you Fire Aware. Fire Prepared.

Carrie Berger, Christopher Adlam, Kara Baylog, John Rizza | Jul 2021 | Fact Sheet Peer reviewed (Gray level)

After the fire (Recorded)

In this webinar, experts discuss what happens after the fire and address some of these uncertainties; including the factors authorities are using to determine when it is safe to return, what to know and expect upon returning, ...

Carrie Berger | Jun 2021 | Video

Be Ready, Be Set, Go! (Recorded)

Wildfire evacuations are becoming a reality that individuals and communities throughout Oregon are face each fire season. Want to learn how you can prepare for evacuation from a wildfire?

Carrie Berger | May 2021 | Video

Building community for wildfire resilience (Recorded)

Fire doesn’t stop at property lines so we must create resilient landscapes as a community. Different communities, different ways to prepare for wildfire. Listen to five panelists from all over Oregon and learn about the way they have come together to reduce fuels and mitigate fire risk.

Carrie Berger | Apr 2021 | Video

It takes a village! (Recorded)

This first webinar kicked off with an introduction to fire risk, community preparedness, and knowing your resources.

Amanda Rau, Christopher Adlam, Ariel Cowan, Katherine Wollstein, John Rizza, Aaron Groth, Carrie Berger, Dan Leavell | Mar 2021 | Video

OSU Extension Fire Program steps up for landowners after wildfires

The Oregon State University Extension’s Forestry & Natural Resources Program quickly realized the need for post-fire resources and mobilized a team.

Carrie Berger | Dec 2020 | Impact story

Ash and debris clean up and removal

The Labor Day Fires constitute the biggest and most expensive disaster in Oregon history. As of October 12, 2020, over 4,000 residences and 1,400 other structures have been destroyed. The management of the ash and debris left behind is a 2-step process. First, household hazardous waste (HHW) must be removed. Once complete, the process of removing ash and debris may begin on the property.

Carrie Berger, Oregon Wildfire Recovery | Oct 2020 | Fact Sheet

After the fire checklist - fillable PDF

To make it easier to fill out, we have generated a fillable PDF form for the "After the fire checklist." Fill in the blanks to streamline your assessment process going to the next step (funding, contracting, further assistance). Don’t forget to include your map and photos.

Dan Leavell, Stephen Fitzgerald, Carrie Berger, Tiffany Hopkins | Oct 2020 | Fact Sheet