THE NATURE CONSERVANCY • January 20, 2026
Most days, you can find Legacy Club Stewardship Manager Warren Miskell working at his desk in Brunswick, Maine, serving as a resource for The Nature Conservancy’s more than 33,000 Legacy Club members. At certain times of the year, though—typically in the fall or late spring—you might find him suited up in fire-resistant gear, volunteering as a member of TNC in Maine’s burn crew. More than half of the world’s terrestrial ecosystems need fire to stay healthy, and TNC uses it as an important landscape stewardship tool. Controlled burns require rigorous planning: The weather must be just right, and each participant has a role. Whether that’s setting fires with a drip torch or dousing escaped embers, Warren is glad to be involved in this hands-on conservation. “It’s a serious commitment to do this work. The people who do it full time have a wealth of knowledge of how to use and control fire for conservation,” says Warren. “With each fire, I learn from them. It’s exciting to be a part of it.”