In the face of a changing climate and the increased frequency, intensity and length of wildfires, the need to effectively mitigate them is becoming increasingly important around the world to prevent the loss of lives, damage to property, infrastructure and ecosystems.
After devastating fire seasons in 2021 and 2022, the challenge in 2023 was unlikely to be tamed without appropriate prevention and management technologies and countermeasures. In 2021, almost 6,000 structures, both residential and commercial, were burned. In 2022, approximately 66,255 wildfires impacted 7.5 million acres – gravely impacting human development and communities.
Accordingly, numerous U.S states and the federal government are increasing budgets to respond to the growing risk of wildfires to ensure that wildfire agencies are equipped with the latest technologies and tools.
As such, we will explore the latest advancements in technologies that can be leveraged by fire agencies, the importance of bolstering interagency collaboration and international efforts - comparing technologies, tools, techniques, workflows and best practices for wildfire management around the world.
The fifth iteration of Wildfire Technology Management will help bridge the gap between industry, wildfire agencies and academia to better prevent, detect, suppress, and mitigate these destructive wildfires moving forward.
