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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">A quick reminder -- if you are
involved in planning or policy issues in communities near the wildland urban
interface, you should plan to attend the summit, “Living with Fire in Chaparral
Ecosystems: Providing Tools for Decision Makers.” </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The summit is being held Jan.
10-12 at the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Riverside</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType>Convention
Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> in
<st1:City><st1:place>Riverside</st1:place></st1:City>. It is the culmination of
a year-long project by the USDA Forest Service, in conjunction with the UC
Berkeley Center for Forestry, the
<st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Edward</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceName>J.</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceName>Blakely</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType>Center</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> for Sustainable Suburban
Development at UC Riverside and the San Diego Natural History Museum. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The project’s purpose is to bring
together a wide variety of professionals who play a role in dealing with
wildfires in or near the wildland-urban interface, including fire agencies,
planners, government officials, land managers, scientists, fire prevention
organizations, environmentalists, architects, builders and insurance
representatives. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Some of the speakers at the
summit include:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">JAMES SCHWAB, a senior research
associate with the American Planning Association and an author of several books
on urban and disaster planning. He is a co-author of the APA book, “Planning for
Wildfires.”</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">BRUCE GOLDSTEIN, an Assistant
Professor in the Urban Affairs and Planning Program in the
<st1:place><st1:PlaceType>School</st1:PlaceType> of
<st1:PlaceName>Public</st1:PlaceName></st1:place> and International Affairs at
Virginia Tech. Initially trained in conservation biology, he has studied the
difficulties of coordinating scientific involvement in multi-species habitat
conservation plans for rapidly growing southern
<st1:State><st1:place>California</st1:place></st1:State> cities. He has expanded
that study to include coordination of science in fire<BR>protection.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">ALEX DUNN, a Presidential Fellow
working with the <st1:place><st1:PlaceName>San Bernardino</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType>National Forest</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. Along with several
scientists at the Riverside Fire Lab, Dunn explored the economics of post fire
recovery to find out what the Old, Grand Prix and
<st1:City><st1:place>Padua</st1:place></st1:City> fires of 2003 really cost the
region.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">KEVIN JOHNSON, a fire chief with
<st1:place><st1:PlaceName>Los Angeles</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType>County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>, will be demonstrating the Air
Craft Mounted Infrared Camera system the county has developed for tracking
movement of wildfires. This advanced technology provides a tremendous
information resource that enables efficient deployment of resources and rapid
decision-making.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">JOHN CHATOIAN, the Forest
Service's regional geologist, focuses on a wildfire’s continuing threat to lives
and property from landslides and accelerated erosion long after the fire is
extinguished. What can be done to prevent future losses?</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">KATE DARGAN, Assistant State Fire
Marshall, will discuss
<st1:State><st1:place>California</st1:place></st1:State>’s strategy to manage
the wildland urban interface through education, land use planning and building
standards.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Several other speakers will make
presentations during the summit. For a more complete list and other summit
information, please visit the project’s website at:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><A
href="http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/chaparral">www.fs.fed.us/psw/chaparral</A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Attached is a copy of the summit
registration form. If you are planning to attend but are delayed in getting
registration funds from your agency or company, please send in your registration
forms now and follow up with the registration fee at a later date.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">If you have any questions
regarding the summit, please contact:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Dr. Pamela Padgett</P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:place><st1:PlaceName>USDA</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType>Forest</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> Service</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">951-680-1584</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">e-mail: <A
href="mailto:ppadgett@fs.fed.us">ppadgett@fs.fed.us</A></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>