Fire History Field Day

Photo Credit: John Neely

Date: Friday, June 12, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM EDT
Register: CLICK HERE

This event is hosted by the Fire & Fire History Working Group of the North Atlantic Fire Science Exchange (NAFSE) and will take place on Friday, June 12, 2026, from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm EDT at White Lake State Park in Tamworth, New Hampshire. White Lake State Park is located in the Ossipee Mountain region, a mosaic of lakes, wetlands, sandy pine barrens, and low-lying mountains that has supported fire for millennia. There will be additional opportunities to explore the nearby Ossipee Pine Barrens, a globally rare natural community of pitch pine - scrub oak woodland that is actively managed for restoration.

Space is limited to 25 participants. Please read through ALL the information below before registering. If you have any questions please reach out to Eric Evenson, NAFSE Science Communications Specialist, at NAFSEhelp@gmail.com

Goals and Activities

The overall goal of this field trip is to demonstrate ways to reconstruct fire history of a site through interdisciplinary research and cooperation. This program will:

Provide information on fire adapted natural communities, their role in the region, and current threats to these communities.
Examine methods to identify and collect fire-scarred trees and stumps.
Explore how long-term fire regime trends are reconstructed from lake sediment charcoal records.
Learn ways to incorporate and consider human influence on a site using archaeology, landforms, and past records.
Show how to leverage these data to make informed management decisions, including returning fire to an area.
Discuss ways to incorporate the above activities on attendees’ lands.

Agenda

*Attending the Fire History Field Day will require hiking to various locations throughout the park. You will cover roughly 2-3 miles of relatively flat terrain, but will walk off trail for much of it. No restroom facilities will be available while in the field.

9:45 am - 10:00 am: Arrive at designated parking area (see map below)
10:00 am - 10:15 am: Welcome and introductions
10:15 am – 12:00 pm: Natural community information and fire scar collection
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm: Lunch in the field
1:00 pm – 2:45 pm: Sediment sampling and resource management considerations
2:45 pm - 3:00 pm: Return to designated parking area (see map below)
3:15 pm - 4:15 pm: Optional visit to the Ossipee Pine Barrens

*The event is rain or shine. The weather will be monitored to ensure the safety of the participants in the event if any significant weather were to form (i.e. thunderstorms).

*See below for recommendations on dress, gear, and food/drink.

Alternative Field Trip Option

For those with mobility concerns, we are offering an alternative field trip to the Ossipee Pine Barrens, located in Madison, New Hampshire from 12:45 – 3:00 pm for up to 10 participants. Using an All Persons Trail suitable for wheelchairs and other assistive/adaptive devices we will explore the Ossipee Pine Barrens and learn about best management practices for this globally rare natural community. The tour will be under 2 miles.

Fire History Field Day Speakers

Speakers who will share their relevant knowledge at the Fire History Field Day include:

Chris Guiterman (Research Scientist with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado-Boulder)
John Neely (Community Wildfire Mitigation Coordinator, NH Department of Natural and Cultural Resources)
Peter Bowman (Ecologist/Wildlife Specialist with the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources)
Sabrina Stanwood (Administrator with the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources)
Michael Crawford (Northern New Hampshire Land Manager and Burn Boss with the Nature Conservancy)
Mark Doperalski (State Archaeologist with the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources)
Chris O’Brien (Prescribed Fire Coordinator with the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources)
Simon Pendleton (Assistant Professor of Practice in Environmental Science and Policy at Plymouth State University) and research student Maggie DelBove
Katie Glover (External Associate with the Climate Change Institute, University of Maine)

Dress, Gear, and Food/Drink

General Guidelines/Recommendations for the field day include:

Wear long pants, closed-toe hiking shoes, and a sun hat for your visit.
Bring plenty of food, drinking water, and sunscreen.
If rain is in the forecast bring a waterproof jacket or poncho.
Stinging/biting insects, ticks, and poison ivy are a risk in our woods this time of year. If you have been prescribed an EpiPen for severe allergies, we recommend you bring one and have it accessible.
Pets are NOT allowed on the trails, including service dogs/other support animals.
No restroom facilities will be available while in the field.

Maps/Directions

Map and directions for the Fire History Field Day Tour:

Parking will be on Irenes Way, off Depot Road. Use the link for directions to this location: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/43.8317883,-71.2243822/@43.8327325,-71.2252405,17z?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Map and directions to the Ossipee Pine Barrens:

Parking will be on the West Branch Trailhead off Plains Rd (NH41). Use the link below for directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ana1JLFCK9dqc7XZA

Learn more about the Ossipee Pine Barrens Preserve: CLICK HERE