Wildfire Policy,
Politics + Science
A Virtual Workshop for Journalists
December 5 - 6, 2023
As wildfire seasons start earlier, last longer and cause more damage than ever before, state and federal officials struggle to keep up. A changing climate keeps moving the target as decision makers strive to provide resources for beleaguered firefighters, define risk, prepare homeowners for the inevitable and seek solutions – all while bigger, hotter fires keep coming.
IJNR conducted a two-day virtual workshop in December 2023 to help 25 competitively selected journalists better understand and cover the science and policy surrounding the shifting fire landscape. Reporters heard from expert speakers, including scientists, Indigenous fire practitioners, policy-makers and fire managers about such topics as:
• Climate change and shifting fire regimes
• Community preparedness and resilience
• Insurance and wildfire
• Updates in federal fire policy and funding
• Wildland firefighter well-being
• Prescribed burning and collaborative management
• Equity and impacts of wildfire