Building a Small Prescribed Burn Trailer for Your Community PBA

 

A Practical, Budget-Based Guide to Getting Burn-Ready

One of the fastest and most effective ways to get a community-based Prescribed Burn Association (PBA) operational is by building a small, well-equipped burn trailer. You don’t need a full engine or a massive budget—you need the right tools, organized well, and ready to deploy.

This guide breaks down a real-world equipment list and cost estimate to help your PBA move from planning to putting good fire on the ground safely.


Why a Small Burn Trailer Works

A small trailer allows your PBA to:

  • Centralize equipment for shared community use
  • Stay organized and deployment-ready
  • Support 3–6 person burn operations
  • Reduce costs through shared ownership
  • Build capacity using the barn-raising model

The Core Equipment Package

This setup is designed to support a small but capable burn module.

🦺 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

  • Helmets (10) — $800
  • Gloves (10) — $100
  • Eye Protection (10) — $50
  • Ear Protection (disposable) — $20
  • Chainsaw Chaps — $150

Subtotal: $1,120


💧 Water & Fire Control

  • Backpack Pumps (4) — $850

Subtotal: $850


📡 Communications & Weather

  • Radios (6-pack w/ bank charger) (2 sets) — $1,112
  • Radio Mics (12) — $420
  • Kestrel Weather Kits (2) — $1,258
  • Kestrel 3550 (1) — $239

Subtotal: $3,029


🪓 Hand Tools & Fireline Equipment

  • Hand Tools (10) — $1,000
  • Adjustable Rakes (3) — $45

Subtotal: $1,045


⛓️ Chainsaw Package

  • Chainsaw — $900
  • Scabbard — $80
  • Extra Chain + Sharpener Kit — $120
  • 2.5 gal Fuel Can (50:1 mix) — $126
  • Bar Oil — (variable)

Subtotal: $1,226


🔥 Ignition Equipment

  • Drip Torches (4) — $1,060
  • 5-gallon Fuel Can (drip mix) — $334

Subtotal: $1,394


🚧 Signage & Public Safety

  • Rx Fire Signs (2) — $324.76
  • Rx Fire Sign Stands (2) — $684.32

Subtotal: $1,009.08


🩺 Medical & Emergency

  • First Aid Kit — $550
  • Medical Kit Contents — $350
  • Burn Kit — $300
  • Fire Extinguisher — $80

Subtotal: $1,280


💰 Total Equipment Cost

Equipment Total: $10,223.08


🚚 Trailer & Buildout Costs

  • Enclosed Trailer — $4,500
  • Interior Buildout (shelves, mounts, tie-downs) — $1,000

🔥 Grand Total Investment

Total Build Cost: $15,723.08


What This Gets You

For under $16K, your PBA has:

  • A fully functional burn module
  • Equipment to support safe ignition, holding, and contingency
  • Professional-level organization for training and operations
  • A scalable foundation to grow into a larger burn program

How to Set It Up

Keep your trailer layout simple and mission-focused:

Recommended Layout:

  • Left Wall: Mounted hand tools (quick grab)
  • Front Section: Fuel + ignition (secured)
  • Shelving: PPE, radios, and weather kits
  • Rear Access: Medical kit and fire extinguisher (easy access)

Key Rule: If you can’t grab it quickly on a burn, it’s not set up right.


Built for Community. Built for Action.

This trailer isn’t just equipment—it’s:

  • A training platform
  • A community resource
  • A tool for reducing wildfire risk at scale

It allows landowners, volunteers, and practitioners to work together safely and bring fire back where it belongs.


Final Thoughts

You don’t need millions in funding or agency-level infrastructure to start burning.

You need:

  • The right tools
  • A committed community
  • A system that is simple, organized, and ready

Start small. Stay consistent. Build capacity.

Because the goal isn’t just to own equipment—
it’s to create a community that knows how to use it.


More Good Fire. More Resilience. Stronger Together.

 
How the More Good Fire Program Helps New Prescribed Burn Associations Procure Equipment

Starting a community-based Prescribed Burn Association (PBA) is one of the most effective ways to bring good fire back to the landscape. But one of the biggest hurdles new PBAs face isn’t training or motivation—it’s equipment.

Drip torches, pumps, hose lays, PPE, radios, and transport systems all add up quickly. Without the right tools, even the most motivated group of landowners can’t safely or effectively implement prescribed fire. That’s where the More Good Fire Program steps in.


Bridging the Equipment Gap

The More Good Fire Program is designed to remove barriers and help PBAs move from concept to implementation. We work directly with new and developing PBAs to identify equipment needs and create a realistic path to acquisition.

Instead of leaving communities to figure it out alone, we provide:

  • Guidance on what equipment is actually needed (and what isn’t)
  • Scalable solutions based on burn size, fuels, and terrain
  • Support in building a shared equipment cache for your PBA

Smart Procurement Strategies

Not every PBA needs a fully outfitted engine or trailer on day one. We help you think strategically about procurement:

Start Small, Build Capacity

We prioritize essential tools first:

  • Drip torches & fuel mix containers
  • Hand tools (pulis, shovels, McLeods)
  • Basic PPE (Nomex, gloves, helmets)
  • Portable pumps and hose kits

From there, PBAs can expand into:

  • UTV skid units
  • Water tenders or Type 6/7 engines
  • Dedicated prescribed fire trailers

Access to Funding & Grants

One of the biggest advantages of working with the More Good Fire Program is access to funding pathways.

We help PBAs:

  • Identify and apply for grants (state, federal, and private)
  • Leverage fiscal sponsorship through the Healthy Forest Alliance Foundation
  • Build proposals that clearly demonstrate community risk reduction and capacity building

This dramatically increases your chances of securing funding for equipment purchases.


Equipment Partnerships & Discounts

Through our network, PBAs gain access to:

  • Industry partners like Vallfirest
  • Gear providers like Wolfpack Gear

These partnerships often mean:

  • Discounted pricing
  • Bulk purchasing opportunities
  • Donations or pilot equipment programs

Shared Equipment Model (Barn-Raising Approach)

PBAs are built on the idea of neighbors helping neighbors. Equipment should follow the same model.

We help you develop a:

  • Shared cache system for tools and gear
  • Equipment check-in/check-out protocols
  • Maintenance and replacement plans

This keeps costs low and ensures equipment is always ready for the next burn.


Training + Equipment Integration

Equipment without training is a liability. That’s why the More Good Fire Program integrates procurement with hands-on training through the Good Fire Training Network.

Your members learn:

  • Proper use of pumps, hose, and ignition devices
  • Maintenance and inspection standards
  • Safe and effective firing operations

This ensures your PBA is not just equipped—but qualified and capable.


From Zero to Burn-Ready

The goal is simple: take your PBA from no equipment to operational readiness as efficiently as possible.

With the More Good Fire Program, you’re not just buying gear—you’re building a sustainable, community-based fire program that can grow year after year.


Ready to Build Your Equipment Cache?

If you’re forming a Prescribed Burn Association and need help procuring equipment, we can guide you every step of the way—from identifying needs to securing funding and building your cache.

Learn more at: www.good-fire.org

Because bringing back good fire shouldn’t be limited by access to tools—it should be driven by community.