Spiedr.com

Wildfire Season Forecast: What Snowpack, Drought, and Spring Weather Tell Us

Quick Answer: British Columbia is forecast to face the highest and most sustained wildfire risk of any Canadian province in 2026, peaking in July. The BC Interior entered the season with record-low valley-bottom snowpack, multi-year drought in the Northeast and Chilcotin, and elevated Drought Code values. Across the border, eight U.S. states set new April [...]

The Role of Wildland Fire Training in Effective Structure Protection

With wildfires on the rise across North America, this guide will explore the vital role wildland fire training plays in effective structure protection.   Introduction: Why Wildland Fire Training is Critical for Structure Protection Wildfires are a growing threat to businesses and communities: 15m hectares of land was torched in Canada in 2023. With the […]

Examining the Wildfire Impact on Canadian Communities

July and August 2024 saw the Calcite Creek wildfire sweep through British Columbia. It has left a devastating mark on the Okanagan Valley and nearby communities. This and other wildfires are more than just a natural disaster; they are a direct threat to their homes and businesses. They’re a threat to their way of life. [...]
Pile of brush on fire.

How Do Controlled Burns Work?

Controlled burning or “prescribed burning” is a fuel management technique used to help prevent out-of-control wildfires by intentionally burning off areas of dry, flammable natural materials in a controlled manner. Controlled burns can also be used to prepare an area for tree planting or to enhance a specific habitat. Types of Controlled Burning Intentionally-Set Burn […]

Flamming

How the Coronavirus Pandemic is Expected to Impact Wildfire Season

As communities prepare for the annual wildfire season, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is adding new challenges to how wildfire response and suppression efforts are carried out. Firefighters and emergency planners must now balance traditional wildfire management with health protocols like social distancing and reduced travel, which influence staffing, training, and on-the-ground operations. Wildfire activity in [...]
Small plane dropping fire retardant onto a wildfire.

How AI is Changing the Way We Monitor Wildfires

AI technology is currently changing the way many things are done across industries, and now it is being implemented by the California Air National Guard (CA ANG) to help with monitoring and responding to forest fires. How Does Artificial Intelligence Fight Wildfire? The current process for identifying and mapping new wildfires entails people manually watching […]

Silhouettes of trees with smoke rising from the ground.

New Hydrogel Treatment Could Change the Face of Wildfire Prevention

An innovative new wildfire prevention treatment has been developed by researchers at Stanford University. The project leader is Eric Appel, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering at the university. The new treatment is a fire-retardant hydrogel called Fortify that lasts for a significant amount of time on vegetation after it has been applied. […]

Australian Fire

Australia Fire Report: Here’s What’s Happening

Australia is currently experiencing massive wildfires that are causing massive damages, environmental impact, and worldwide concern. There have been 27 fatalities to date. The fires in Australia have burned 63,000 square kilometres so far. To put this into perspective, the Amazon rainforest fires in the summer of 2019 covered 9,060 square kilometres. The fires are […]