SHAPING THE FUTURE OF WILDFIRE
PREVENTION AND SUPPRESSION
APRIL 15 - 16, 2025 | LONG BEACH MARRIOTT LONG BEACH, CA
Day 1: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
8:00 am - 8:50 am
REGISTRATION AND NETWORKING IN THE EXHIBITION HALL
8:55 am - 9:00 am
CHAIR’S WELCOME REMARKS
8:50 am - 9:20 am
WELCOME FROM THE LONG BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT
9:00 am - 9:30 am
PREVENTING WILDFIRES – INVESTING IN THE TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP COMMUNITIES SAFE
Chief Joe Tyler -
Director and Fire Chief,
CAL FIRE
- Investing to create resilience
- Fire prevention technology advancements and needs
- Advancing aviation and land simulated training
9:30 am - 10:00 am
ADVANCING DETECTION AND MONITORING SYSTEMS
- Current standards and needs for detection and monitoring systems
- How local fire stations are using detection and monitoring systems
- Identifying high risk areas that make detection and monitoring challenging
- Challenges of introducing AI and emerging technology into wildfire detection and monitoring
10:00 am - 10:30 am
IMPACT OF THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE ACT ON FEDERAL WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT
- Understanding how the $1.5 billion increase for Interior’s wildland fire management efforts have been implemented
- How the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act will affect future federal wildfire management funding
- Continuing the investment in firefighter mental health, safety, and training
10:30 am - 11:00 am
MORNING NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBITION HALL
11:00 am - 11:30 am
INCREASING THE ROLE OF LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS IN THE TECH ECOSYSTEM
Chief Brian Fennessy -
Fire Chief,
Orange County Fire Authority
Chief Dan Munsey - Fire Chief, San Bernardino Fire Department
- Why local fire departments are becoming the testing grounds for new technology
- The technology needs of local fire departments
- How local fire departments are working with local and state governments to increase the use of technology to fight wildfires
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
FURTHERING COLLABORATION BETWEEN INTERNATIONAL WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATIONS
- Understanding when and how international organizations come together
- Differences in approaches to wildfires from different international organizations
- Case studies showcasing unified global approaches
12:00 pm - 12:30 pm
HOW POWER COMPANIES ARE INVESTING IN PREVENTING WILDFIRES
Sashi Sabaratnam -
Wildfire and Climate Resiliency, Chief,
Pacific Gas And Electric Co
Chris Vetromile - Manager, Wildfire Mitigation, Austin Energy
- How power companies are investing in wildfire protection
- Furthering collaboration with government agencies and power companies to prevent wildfires
- Working with the industry to improve wildfire capabilities
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
LUNCH AND NETWORKING IN THE EXHIBITION HALL
1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
THE FUTURE OF GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY FOR FIGHTING WILDFIRES
Jessica Haas -
Assistant Director of Information Management, Fire & Aviation Management,
USDA Forest Service
Kate Dargan-Marquis - Senior Advisor, Wildfire Resistance, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
- Leveraging Satellite Assets for Better Decision – how NASA and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation are working together
- Difficulties in resource allocation and ordering
- How the US Forest Service is working to expand the use of geospatial technology
Jessica Haas
Assistant Director of Information Management, Fire & Aviation ManagementUSDA Forest Service
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
DEFINING INTEROPERABILITY AND COLLABORATION
- Understanding the perspective on implementing new technology from the IT and firefighter side
- How to successfully build into fire departments’ systems
- Building partnerships with fire departments to test technology before the acquisition stage
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
THE FUTURE OF RETARDANTS
Bryon Lake -
NTDP - Wildland Fire Chemical Systems Program Manager,
Bureau of Land Management
- How the USDA Forest Service implements different retardant offerings
- Discussing the need for ecological friendly retardants
- Understanding retardant needs across the US Forest Service
3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
AFTERNOON NETWORKING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBITION HALL
3:30 pm - 4:00 pm
INCREASING THE USE OF UNMANNED AIRCRAFTS TO MITIGATE WILDFIRES
Matt Dutton -
National UAS Program Manager,
Bureau of Land Management
- Understanding the role unmanned aircrafts play in wildfire mitigation
- Challenges in using unmanned aircrafts to mitigate wildfires
- Technological needs to scale the use of unmanned aircrafts in wildfire mitigation
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm
INVESTING IN FIRE SAFETY AND CREATING FIRESMART COMMUNITIES ON INDIGENOUS LAND
Blaine Wiggins -
Senior Director IFMS,
National Fire Safety Council
- Fire safety needs of indigenous communities
- How the $39 million funding will be used to help implement a firesmart program on indigenous land
- Advancing training of indigenous firefighters
