Got Nature? Blog

Danielle Howard stands in front of a field on fire from a prescribed burn.

Danielle Howard has been hired as an Extension prescribed fire specialist housed with the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue.

The prescribed fire specialist position, funded by the Sam Shine Foundation, aims to increase prescribed fire capacity in Indiana by coordinating, conducting, and leading prescribed fires and prescribed fire training and outreach statewide.

In this role, Howard also will support the formation of prescribed burn associations (PBAs) and the Indiana Prescribed Fire Council (INPFC). She will work closely with Indiana conservation partners to develop prescribed fire training and outreach that builds capacity and support for prescribed fire on public and private land in Indiana.

“Prescribed fire is key to maintaining healthy ecosystems in Indiana, and I’m very excited to be at the forefront of increasing its use across the state,” Howard said.

Co-PIs on the supporting grant titled “Building Capacity for Prescribed Fire in Indiana” are Extension wildlife specialists Jarred Brooke and Brian MacGowan, Extension forester Lenny Farlee, natural resources training specialist Jessica Outcalt and Dr. Zhao Ma.

Danielle Howard holds a drip torch while starting a prescribed burn.

Howard, who previously worked in FNR as the field coordinator for the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment from 2020 to 2023, comes to her new role after spending the last three years as the central region ecologist for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish, Wildlife and Nature Preserves. In that role, she managed 71 state-dedicated nature preserves and multiple privately-owned conservation easements across 26 counties in central Indiana. She also planned, prepared and implemented prescribed fire, invasive species control measures, native plantings, forest stand management and other restoration activities. She also established and sampled research plots for post-fire vegetation monitoring in Brown County State Park.

Howard also has taught Applied Ecology as an adjunct professor at Indiana University since January 2025.

In her previous stint in FNR as part of the HEE project, Howard coordinated forest management research activities, including bird surveys, overstory plots, small mammal trapping and more, conducted by various universities and partners at sites in Morgan-Monroe and Yellowwood State Forests.

Previously, she acted as an intermittent bird biologist for the Indiana DNR, the whooping crane outreach program assistant in Indiana for the International Crane Foundation and as a farm bill wildlife biologist for Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever.

Howard is a type II certified wildland firefighter and has certifications in prescribed fire for managers, wildlife fire chainsaws (S-212), wildlife fire pumps (S-211) and a pesticide applicator’s license for core and forests.

Howard began her new role on May 18. She will be based remotely in Bloomington, Indiana.

To view this article along with other news and stories posted on the Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources website view: Danielle Howard Hired as FNR Extension Prescribed Fire Specialist.

Resources:
Wildlife Habitat Hint: Prescribed Fire Techniques – Backing Fire, Video, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube channel
Wildlife Habitat Hint: Prescribed Fire Techniques – Flanking Fire, Purdue Extension – FNR Video
Wildlife Habitat Hint: Late Growing Season Prescribed Fire, Purdue Extension – FNR Video
FNR Ask The Expert: Prescribed Fire with Jarred Brooke and Mike Saunders, Purdue Extension – FNR Video
Prescribed fire: 6 things to consider before you ignite, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
Indiana Prescribed Fire Council (IPFC)
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment (HEE)
Finding help from a professional forester, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA)
Wildlife Management & Grassland Management, Pond and Wildlife Management, Purdue Extension
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
Woodland Management Moment YouTube Playlist, Purdue Extension – FNR
Subscribe – Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel, find natural resources, forestry, wildlife, urban forestry and much more.

Wendy Mayer, FNR Communications Coordinator
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources