Project Overview
Title: Developing a North American Blueprint for Wildland Fire ScienceProject Overview
Funding Agency: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF)
Goal: To strengthen predictive services and support knowledge retention within wildland fire management agencies, enhancing decision-making and organizational resilience across North America.
Project Summary
This project aims to develop a foundational blueprint for wildland fire science by focusing on two key areas: Predictive Services (PS) discovery and design, and expertise-based decision-making. Through a collaborative research agreement between York University and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, the project supports the Aviation, Forest Fire and Emergency Services (AFFES) division in enhancing wildland fire management capabilities.
Under the leadership of Dr. Eric Kennedy, the project engages York researchers in close partnership with AFFES personnel to co-design predictive service models and strategies for organizational knowledge retention. The initiative seeks to address operational challenges posed by climate change, increasing wildfire complexity, and the loss of experienced personnel due to retirements. It emphasizes the use of evidence-based tools, literature reviews, and expert consultations to guide decision-making frameworks and training approaches.
Key Research Areas
- Predictive Services Design: Conducting multi-jurisdictional reviews, expert consultations, and synthesizing findings to recommend models for Ontario’s predictive services.
- Knowledge Retention & Expertise Development: Reviewing decision-making frameworks, identifying best practices for organizational learning, and co-developing guidance documents for AFFES.
- Collaborative Learning: Engaging stakeholders from wildland fire management agencies across North America to exchange insights and build a shared vision for future operations.
Key Contributors
Project Lead: Dr. Eric Kennedy (Principal Investigator)
Co-Investigators and Collaborators:
- AFFES leadership and staff
- Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry personnel
- Early career researchers and trainees at York University
Project Duration
Start Date: December 11, 2023
End Date: March 31, 2025
Impact and Future Goals
The project is designed to provide actionable strategies to improve Ontario’s wildland fire predictive capabilities and retain institutional expertise. Its outputs will inform future policy, training, and operational planning in the face of growing wildfire risk. Ultimately, the project contributes to a broader North American strategy for resilient and science-informed wildland fire management.