Organizers: Heather Heward, University of Idaho and Timothy Yurkiewicz, USDA Forest Service

The world needs more wildland fire professionals with the ability to work hard, communicate clearly, and solve evolving problems. These budding professionals need training, education, and experience to get there. Join us to explore ways that academia and industry can align to provide the ideal growing environment for the current and future generations of wildland fire professionals.  Bring lessons learned and ideas you want to see turn into realities. Let’s work together to maximize the strengths of academia and industry.

Organizers: Christopher Jones, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Mary Lata, USDA Tonto Forest Supervisor Office

Using a World Café format, participants will discuss the implications of wildfire in the Sonoran Desert. Topics include fuel treatments and reducing fire risk, post-fire actions and concerns, and research gaps. The session will inform developing a science synthesis on fire & nonnative plant invasion in the Sonoran Desert.

Organizers: Kyle Trefny, FireGeneration Collaborative; Ryan Reed, FireGeneration Collaborative; Timothy Ingalsbee, Firefighters United for Safety, Ethics, & Ecology (FUSEE)

This Fire Circle is for the next generation in fire. We have a significant dependence on the outcomes of climate crises response and land stewardship decisions. The FireGeneration Collaborative aims to connect most-impacted communities with decision-making, center Indigenous and diverse young practitioners in solutions, and transform our generation’s relationship with fire

Organizers: Gabe Kohler, The Forest Stewards Guild; Jan-Willem Jansens, Ecotone Landscape Planning

Balancing the need for fire risk reduction treatments with forest ecology considerations requires dialogue amongst fire service professionals and forest ecologists. This need is particularly prevalent in piñon-juniper ecosystems. We propose a “Fire Circle Discussion” to identify (a) the different viewpoints and values that need to be balanced and (b) options for reconciling these differences.

Organizers: Gloria J Edwards, Southern Rockies Fire Science Network; Lori Bammerlin, Great Plains Fire Science Exchange; Eugénie MontBlanc, Great Basin Fire Science Exchange

Fire Science Exchanges present a regional Rx Council Fire Circle bringing both new and previous groups together to facilitate discussion, identify issues and local challenges, and develop successful partnerships promoting understanding and beneficial use of prescribed fire in adjoining regions.

Organizers: Emily Huff, Michigan State University; Kristin Floress, USDA Forest Service; Michelle Baumflek, USDA Forest Service; Cherie Fischer, USDA Forest Service; Amanda Curton, Michigan State University

A team of US Forest Service and social science researchers would like to host a discussion with multiple stakeholders on current and potential social science data sources and indicators, and how this evidence can be used to support wildfire crisis strategy implementation. We will discuss a current research mapping tool, social science research briefs, and learn from participants what evidence is most useful for supporting wildfire management in their communities and organizations.

Organizers: Dr. Maura Sullivan, Coastal Chumash Good Fire group; Carlie Domingues, Native Coast; Teresa Romero, Native Coast

This will be a knowledge share, with the flow of information going from panelists, to community, and back again. We hope to hold space on how to start good fire groups. We are in the process of getting our permits and having discussions about what good fire means for us.