Kelley Van Druten Receives Statewide Outreach Award for Prescribed Fire Communications

Recently, Wildland-Urban Interface Specialist Kelley Van Druten of Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge was named "Prescribed Burner of the Year - 2007" by the North Carolina Prescribed Fire Council. The Prescribed Fire Council is a statewide coalition of agencies and organizations that promotes fire safety and management through the use of prescribed fire in the State of North Carolina. Van Druten's award was "for service to the Council and outstanding support for the continued use of prescribe fire as a land management tool in North Carolina." The recognition was for Van Druten's work on the Education and Outreach Subcommittee. Chris Moorman, NC Prescribed Fire Council Chairman, presented the award at a Council meeting in late January. District Fire Management Officer Tom Crews praised Van Druten for her accomplishment and her dedication to fire outreach. "Kelley always goes above and beyond the call of duty. She's a first rate biologist, a first rate firefighter, and - more importantly in this case - a first rate communicator," he said.


Photo Credit: NCPFC
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