In the face of a changing climate and the increased frequency, intensity, and length of wildfires, the need to effectively mitigate them is becoming increasingly important around the world to prevent the loss of lives, and damage to property, infrastructure, and ecosystems.
After devastating fire seasons in 2021 and 2022, the challenge in 2023 is unlikely to be tamed without appropriate prevention and management technologies and countermeasures. In 2021, almost 6,000 structures, both residential and commercial, were burned. In 2022, at the time of writing, approximately 48,500 wildfires have impacted 6.2 million acres already this year in the United States – gravely impacting human development and communities. Accordingly, numerous U.S. states and the federal government are increasing budgets to respond to the growing risk of wildfires to ensure that wildfire agencies are equipped with the latest technologies and tools.
The fourth iteration of Wildfire Technology Management will help bridge the gap between industry, wildfire agencies, and academia to better prevent, detect, suppress, and mitigate these destructive wildfires moving forward.