The Dirt: My Journey to the Drip Torch

My First Look at a Controlled Burn

A few months later, I was invited to observe a controlled burn so I could better communicate about fire’s role in restoration. On February 17, 2024, I got the text: weather conditions were perfect. I put on my PPE (personal protection equipment) and headed from Raleigh to the Sandhills with absolutely no idea what I was walking into. When I arrived, the fire crew began briefing and everyone took notes as the fire boss talked through weather, wind shifts and assignments. Everything was new, and I started wondering what I was doing there. But all I really needed to know was that I was following Sandhills Conservation Coordinator Rhonda Sturgill, who already had more than 15 years of experience.

Everyone on the crew has a role. They move with purpose, stay aware and communicate constantly. This was a first-entry burn at TNC’s Griffin Preserve, which means the area has not had a controlled burn before. The main goal was to clear the hardwoods that were dominating the groundcover. I was following Rhonda when the fire boss approached and asked if I wanted to burn—with Rhonda’s close supervision, of course. I said yes. I wanted the full experience.

My first task was to light straight lines, five feet apart. The drip torch was heavier than I expected. I was scared of tilting it too much as I slowly lit my first fire and started walking. The heat warmed me…I heard the crackling wood, smelled the pine needles burning and watched the smoke rise. It was strangely relaxing and exhilarating at the same time.

I looked at the lines I’d made as the wind pulled the fire into the unit, where it met the fire dots the crew inside had lit. Everything came together and burned for a while, and as the longleaf pine needles and leaf litter were consumed, the fire simply stopped. All I could see was the black forest floor. Wow. I only knew of wildfires that lasted days and couldn’t be put out—certainly not fire that politely extinguished itself...I was hooked. I really liked getting my hands dirty and being part of the restoration work I only communicated about.

Starting My Wildland Firefighter Certification

I started my Wildland Firefighter certification that requires 40 hours of online coursework, a field day and a fitness test. I took the online courses, which covered safety, the fire triangle and fuel types, over the course of a year. It took another six months to convince myself I could pass the fitness test, known as “the pack test.” There are two options: the strenuous one—three miles under 45 minutes carrying 45 pounds—or the moderate one—two miles under 30 minutes carrying 25 pounds. Luckily, I only needed to pass the latter.

In November 2025, I was alerted to a fitness test scheduled for January, which gave me two months to prepare. Without overthinking it, I signed up.

I practiced around my neighborhood using a 20-pound fire pack. My first try was 38 minutes, but two days before the test, I was down to 27 minutes.

When test day arrived, I headed to Weymouth Woods, where fire crew members from TNC, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the U.S. Forest Service gathered for the refresher training. The team shared lessons from past burns, learned about new technology and practiced fire shelter deployments. At the end of the day, it was time for the pack test.

Everyone grabbed their weighted vests, and the five extra pounds really did make a difference. We lined up on the trail, and staff waited at checkpoints to cheer everyone on. I kept telling myself, just two laps, as everyone started passing me. Luckily, my colleague Jeff Marcus helped me keep pace, checked over his shoulder with a smile and kept track of the time. Jeff and I finished in 29 minutes, and I couldn’t believe I did it.

Video of the Sandhills Wildfire Contained