What UMPBA Does — and Doesn't — Do
UMPBA supports members through education, coordination, equipment access, and cooperative participation. UMPBA does not approve burn plans, authorize burns, designate Burn Bosses, or assume landowner liability. Every burn remains the landowner's responsibility, from planning through completion.
Become a Member
Join UMPBA and meet the membership, training, and participation requirements applicable to members requesting assistance with prescribed burns.
Get Trained
Prescribed fire requires training, planning, and hands-on experience. Missouri's Certified Prescribed Burn Manager pathway begins with the Missouri-approved online prescribed burn course, followed by an in-person field exercise.
UMPBA members seeking burn assistance should complete the required training and keep their certification on file with the Association.
Write Your Burn Plan
A written burn plan should be completed before ignition using an appropriate prescribed burn planning form or template.
The plan should identify the burn unit and objectives, map firebreaks and safety zones, establish acceptable weather and fire-behavior parameters, identify personnel and equipment needs, and address smoke management and required notifications.
Landowners who need assistance developing a prescription may work with qualified natural-resource professionals, including MDC or NRCS personnel where services are available.
Submit Your Burn Plan
Members requesting UMPBA assistance should submit their completed burn plan through the UMPBA Burn Plan Submission Portal.
Early submission helps the Association coordinate potential volunteer participation, equipment needs, and seasonal scheduling.
Submission to UMPBA does not constitute approval or authorization of the burn. Responsibility for the plan, the decision to burn, and the safe and lawful conduct of the burn remains with the landowner.
Prepare the Site
Complete firebreaks, access preparation, hazard mitigation, and other required pre-burn site work before participating members and volunteers arrive.
Site preparation remains the responsibility of the landowner unless other arrangements have been specifically coordinated.
Coordinate Member & Equipment Support
Identify your anticipated personnel needs when submitting your burn plan. UMPBA may assist with notifying members and coordinating volunteer participation, but the availability of members cannot be guaranteed.
Association equipment is requested separately through the UMPBA Equipment Request Portal. Submission of an equipment request does not guarantee availability; equipment is confirmed only after the request has been reviewed and coordinated.
Complete the Go/No-Go Checklist
Before ignition, the person serving as Burn Boss for the burn completes the Pre-Burn Go/No-Go Checklist.
Weather, personnel, equipment, notifications, site conditions, communications, and safety considerations should all be confirmed before proceeding.
Any unresolved condition that results in a No-Go should be addressed before ignition.
Brief Participants & Conduct the Burn
Before ignition, the person serving as Burn Boss conducts a safety briefing with everyone participating in the burn.
The briefing should cover objectives, assignments, communications, hazards, ignition strategy, escape routes, safety zones, and contingency actions.
Conditions should continue to be monitored throughout the burn, and operations should remain within the limits established by the burn plan.
Log the Burn & Keep Your Records
After the burn, log the completed burn through the Missouri Prescribed Fire Council reporting form. Reporting completed burns helps document prescribed fire activity across Missouri.
Landowners should also retain their burn plan and related burn records as part of their property-management documentation, including relevant weather information, participant records, equipment issues, outcomes, and safety observations.