Seminar

Wildfires in British Columbia have the potential to significantly impact social, environmental and economic values at local and regional scales. Many of the potential impacts of forest fires on communities and infrastructure are poorly documented and understood. The focus of this seminar will be to outline some of the factor s that influence forest fire risk, the impacts of these risks on community infrastructure and stability, and some of the considerations and remedies that area available to communities to mitigate or reduce identified fire risk . It will provide suggestions regarding how to assess post-wildfire risks from flooding, debris flows and debris floods both before and after a fire.

Instructors

Bruce Blackwell, President, RPF, RPBio - B.A. Blackwell & Associates Ltd.
Bruce Blackwell has 19 years' experience as a professional forester and biologist, much of which has been related to fire and forest ecology, forest health, silviculture, vegetation management and forest practice audits and reviews. He is a specialist in forest fire science and has completed numerous projects on this subject including a fire risk assessment for British Columbia and numerous fire management plans for both the public and private sectors. Bruce assisted the Firestorm 2003 Review Team in the development of recommendations on forest management and policy. He has extensive experience in the assessment of forest fire hazard and risk and has been on the leading edge of the development of Wildfire Threat Assessment in British Columbia . Bruce has applied his expertise in developing FireSmart Communities and subdivisions and contributed to the development of a Municipal Wildfire Protection Strategy for the town of Jasper .

Don Dobson, P.Eng., President - Dobson Engineering Ltd.
Don Dobson has worked in the water resources field for 35 years. He has provided post-wildfire advice to the Ministry of Forests and other clients for the past 25 years. In 2003 he completed a post-wildfire risk analysis on the Okanagan Mountain Park Fire for the City of Kelowna. In 2006 he completed a post-wildfire risk assessment procedure for the Ministry of Forests and in 2007 provided advice to the Ministry of Environment on the potential risks of a proposed 3,000 ha prescribed burn within a provincial park. He has also prepared wildfire management plans for clients in the Okanagan.

APEGBC is an AIBC/CES registered provider offering an AIBC-Accredited activity for 2.25 Non-Core Learning Units.