Storms and Strategy: Understanding the Impacts of Hurricanes on Wildland and Prescribed Fire in the Southeast

Photo Credit: Brian Rogers, North Carolina Forest Service

PANEL DISCUSSION: Thursday, January 15, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM EST

Hurricanes and tropical systems are powerful forces that continue to shape the landscape of the U.S. While much attention has been given to the immediate post-storm impacts, the influence of these large-scale weather events on prescribed fire and wildfire management remains underexplored. From altering fuel loads and fuel arrangement, to reshaping access and burn windows, tropical systems introduce both short-term and long-term challenges to regional fire managers.

In this Fueling Collaboration panel discussion, we’ll dive into the complex relationship between hurricanes and wildland fire. Join scientists, land managers, and fire practitioners as they share insights on how storm events affect prescribed fire planning, post-storm fire behavior, and ecosystems. We’ll explore case studies from the coastal and southern Appalachians, and discuss strategies for adapting fire management in a dynamic region.

This panel discussion has been approved for 1.5 Category 1 CFE's by the Society of American Foresters.

Brett Williams (Moderator)

Brett earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental science and master’s degree in forest science from Stephen F. Austin State University in East Texas in 2000. After college, he served in the US Peace Corps in Mongolia as a Parks Specialist. Upon his return stateside, he served as a Conservation Ecologist and led a partnership burn team for The Nature Conservancy of Florida. From 2007 – 2023, Brett served first as the Fire Ecologist, and then the Fire Management Officer, for Eglin AFB and a number of other AFBs in Florida and Georgia. He is currently a Technology Transfer Specialist and Liaison to the Southern Research Station for the Southern Region of the US Forest Service Fire and Aviation Management. He also serves as the Working Group Lead for the Eastern Innovation Landscape Network. In this role, he works to connect fire managers and researchers through co-production with the intent of producing research outcomes relevant to wildland fire management in the Eastern U.S.

Brian Camposano (Panelist)
Brian Camposano serves as the Assistant Chief of Forest Management for the Florida Forest Service, specifically focusing on state lands programs. Brian oversees the programmatic implementation of the Florida Forest Service’s timber management, recreation management, planning, restoration, and ecological programs across all state forests. Additionally, he has well over a decade of experience conducting prescribed burns, and provides support as a fire behavior analyst for wildfire incidents whenever possible.

Brian Rogers (Panelist)

Brian Rogers graduated from Haywood Community College in 2006 and soon after began what has become a distinguished 19-year career with the North Carolina Forest Service. He started as an Assistant County Ranger, quickly earning a reputation for dedication and leadership in both forestry and wildfire management. Over the years, he advanced through the ranks to County Ranger, District Ranger, and in March 2024 was promoted to Regional Ranger. In addition to his leadership roles, Brian has developed significant expertise in wildland fire operations. He currently holds qualifications as an Incident Commander Type 3 (ICT3) and Division Supervisor (DIVS), and he is nearing completion of his qualification as an Operations Section Chief Complex (OSCC). His combination of operational proficiency and administrative leadership has made him a trusted leader within NCFS and across interagency wildfire response efforts.

Jeff Cannon (Panelist)
Dr. Jeffery Cannon is a Landscape Ecologist at the Jones Center at Ichauway. His lab studies the ecology of forest disturbance and restoration in pine ecosystems across the United States, with an emphasis on applying science to practical forestry and natural resource management. His current work focuses on assessing hurricane risk and ecology in southern forests and improving restoration outcomes.

Steve Norman (Panelist)
Steve Norman is a research ecologist with the US Forest Service’s Southern Research Station. His research develops practical ways to map and interpret forest impacts from fire, insects outbreaks, and severe weather with special emphasis on satellite-based remote sensing. A fire ecologist by training, he has researched fire in the southern Appalachians since his arrival in Asheville, NC in 2007. He previously researched long-term fire regime change in northern California.

Our Panel

List of resources shared during the discussion:

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