[CSSD] Planning and Chaparral fire environments conference

[Andy McCue]

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." 

 

The summit is being held Jan. 10-12 at the Riverside Convention Center in Riverside. It is the culmination of a year-long project by the USDA Forest Service, in conjunction with the UC Berkeley Center for Forestry, the Edward J. Blakely Center for Sustainable Suburban Development at UC Riverside and the San Diego Natural History Museum. 

 

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. 

 

Some of the speakers at the summit include:

 

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."

 

BRUCE GOLDSTEIN, an Assistant Professor in the Urban Affairs and Planning Program in the School of Public 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 California cities. He has expanded that study to include coordination of science in fire
protection.

 

ALEX DUNN, a Presidential Fellow working with the San Bernardino National Forest. 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 Padua fires of 2003 really cost the region.

 

KEVIN JOHNSON, a fire chief with Los Angeles County, 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.

 

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?

 

KATE DARGAN, Assistant State Fire Marshall, will discuss California's strategy to manage the wildland urban interface through education, land use planning and building standards.

 

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:

 

www.fs.fed.us/psw/chaparral

 

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.

 

If you have any questions regarding the summit, please contact:

 

Dr. Pamela Padgett

USDA Forest Service

951-680-1584

e-mail: ppadgett at fs.fed.us
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