Mobile friendly prescribed fire handbook now online

STILLWATER, Okla. – The Oklahoma Prescribed Burning Handbook has been a wildly popular publication. So much so that John Weir, research associate in Oklahoma State University’s Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management can hardly keep them stocked on his shelves. To help keep the supply up with the demand, Weir worked with DASNR’s Technology-Services and Support group to create the “Prescribed Fire Handbook,” a mobile website landowners and land managers can easily take with them into the field.

“Anywhere someone has phone service or an Internet connection is a great place to take advantage of this technology,” Weir said. “Virtually all of the information found in our hard copy handbook is now available online in a mobile friendly version.”

The page, factsheets.okstate.edu/e1010, has different tabs at the bottom for various interest areas. There are links to fact sheets and highlights, as well as a question and answer section and tabs for information, such as the effects of fire, preferred weather, fire laws and training opportunities.

“This mobile handbook can answer many of the questions anyone may have before and when conducting prescribed burns,” Weir said. “While the Oklahoma Prescribed Burning Handbook is full of great information, this new technology has all the same information, but it’s much more conveniently accessed through all media devices.”

The information found on the site is valuable to more than just Oklahoma residents, too. “People from all over the region, in surrounding states, can use this information for their burning needs, as well,” Weir said. “While this is not Oklahoma-specific material, we know that residents in our state have really put this information to good use in years past through the hard copy of this handbook.”

By visiting the website, users can create an icon on their smartphone, tablet or laptop. The icon can be placed on a home screen and used as a link, taking users straight to the website and information.

“We are really excited about being able to provide this information to everyone,” Weir said. “It will be very handy to just pull your phone out and search for what you need, rather than shuffling through pages of the old handbook.”

sunup.okstate.edu/category/seg/2014-second-half/072614-prescribed