Chase Durfee

Chase Durfee serves as a Trainer for TREX and is a Natural Resource Technician with the Loess Hills State Forest and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. With 25 years of fire experience, Chase has dedicated his career to the stewardship and conservation of Iowa’s internationally recognized Loess Hills landscape. His work focuses on prescribed fire, habitat management, and ecosystem restoration, using fire as a key tool to maintain healthy, resilient grassland and forest ecosystems. Over the course of his career, he has conducted prescribed burns on federal, state, county, and private lands throughout the Loess Hills region, spanning from Minnesota to Missouri. In addition to his extensive prescribed fire experience, Chase has broadened his expertise through wildland firefighting assignments and partnerships with local fire departments. Known for his deep connection to the landscape where he grew up and works, Chase combines decades of practical experience with a commitment to mentorship, lifelong learning, and conservation. His knowledge, leadership, and passion for land stewardship make him a valued member of the TREX training team.