Lab News

UC Berkeley and CAL FIRE Formalize Partnership

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the University of California, Berkeley, Center for Fire Research and Outreach and Berkeley Forests have entered a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize an agreement to partner on research related to critical forest and fire issues. Highlighted by the recent large and damaging wildfires plaguing the state, the program of research will leverage both agencies’ unique expertise and perspective to collaborate on defining key research topics, methods, and paths for communicating results.

Read the full MOU, here.

A new paper in the journal BioScience discusses how the recent widespread tree die-off in California may affect wildfire risk.

See the press release, New York Times story, or the paper itself.

The workshop, held in Washington, D.C., was entitled “A Century Of Wildland Fire Research: Contributions To Long-term Approaches For Wildland Fire Management.” It was hosted by the National Academy of Sciences Board on Earth Sciences and Resources on March 27, 2017. Prof. Stephens’ talk was entitled, “Fire and fuels management: What works where?.” See the slides here and video here.

Prof. Scott Stephens delivered the opening remarks at the Little Hoover Commission’s public hearing on California Forest Management at the state capital in Sacramento. Read more and access his full testimony here.

Stephens Lab research on restored fire in the Illilouette Basin of Yosemite National Park was covered by Berkeley media relations. Read the story here.

The New York Times article “Fighting Fire with Fire “ discusses the importance of prescribed fire in managing fire risk. Relying on quotes from Scott Stephens, the Times also reports why other strategies beyond prescribed fire are necessary in Southern California. The article is part of the special feature “California Today.”

Stephens lab research into hydrological effects of wildfire was featured on the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Gabrielle Boisrame conducts research in Yosemite’s Illilouette Basin.

Prof. Scott Stephens was invited to the White House for a discussion of climate change impacts on fire in the wildland/urban interface. With fire chiefs, international scientists, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate, and Vice President Joe Biden, Scott discussed emerging threats and possible solutions for communities in high-risk fire areas.

More information can be found here.

Stephens Lab members taught an all-day workshop to 120 local students at Hopland Research and Extension Center near Ukiah, California. The Ukiah Daily Journal put us in the paper! Check out the article here.

ESPM 181, Introduction to Wildland Fire Science, conducted 2 controlled burns over 4 acres at UC Berkeley’s Blodgett Forest Research Station near Georgetown, CA.  Most of the students had not experienced wildland fire personally, and the burns were an invaluable learning experience for all!