Fire Immediate Response for California

The deadly fires in California in 2018 brought fire management to the forefront of the national conversation. At the request of and in coordination with the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Chris Justice organized a workshop on Fire Immediate Response with a focus on California wildfires, with logistical support from Research Faculty Specialist, Shannon Gallagher. The meeting held at the Moore Foundation in Palto Alto Ca. (April 24-26 2018), brought together a broad range of stakeholders including fire managers, representatives from federal and state government and non-government organizations, private sector (data and service providers, insurance industry) and universities. The meeting focused on the  'Early Fire' phase (pref-fire to 24hrs post ignition), including real-time detection of ignition and fire perimeter growth, immediate assessment of the fire, and the response (initial attack) to manage fire and aspects of the associated decision support. The discussion ranged from current capabilities and needs to imagined solutions, including integration of ground-based sensors, drone technologies and satellite observations. Maryland has a long history of satellite fire product development. Louis Giglio (Research Professor) and Wilfrid Schroeder (NOAA, UMD Alumnus) attended and provided insight into the capabilities and use of satellite data. A number of current information gaps and opportunities were identified. The meeting included an airing of the controversial issues associated with the need for balancing fuels management with fire suppression. A report from the workshop and recommendations for next steps is in development.

Published on Wed, 05/01/2019 - 10:28