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Webinars and Courses
Webinars:
Canada Wildfire Webinars will return in the Fall. Stay tuned for the fall line up!
Courses:
Mission Critical Team Leader Training 2025
with Canada Wildfire and the Mission Critical Team Institute
Course Dates: December 8-11, 2025, Hinton, Alberta
Registration now open!
​
We’ve partnered with the Mission Critical Teams Institute again to offer this rare, world-class leadership and resilience training tailored specifically for those working in complex, high-stakes environments.
This training is not limited to wildfire personnel. This year we are welcoming teams across sectors — including military, RCMP, search and rescue, structural fire services, Department of National Defence, and many more emergency response organizations. Participants will learn from one another’s realities, share challenges, and take away new insights that transcend sector boundaries.
This 4-day immersive course is ideal for those working in or with first response organizations, critical decision-making roles, or teams navigating burnout, stress, and uncertainty.
Thanks to the Supporting Psychological Health in First Responders grant (Government of Alberta), we’re excited to share that we’ve expanded course content and reduced fees by approximately 20% this year.
Space is limited — we recommend booking early to ensure availability.
Wildfire Risk in Stswecem’c Xget’tem (SXFN) Territory: Settler-Colonial Barriers and Stswecem’c Xget’tem Solutions
Ashley Camille and Georgina Preston
How do legal objectives for mule deer winter range and old growth management impact the ability of SXFN to implement wildfire risk mitigation, climate change adaptation, and ecocultural restoration within the forests of their Traditional Territory? Georgina and Ashley talk about some work currently underway in the Territory, share perspectives from the Nation, and talk about the importance of Indigenous sovereignty, especially as it pertains to land stewardship aiming to make Indigenous communities and the lands that surround them better prepared for wildfires. Recorded 2025/05/09.
Forecasting for Fire Weather North of 60°: Challenges, Tips, Tricks, and Stories from Years in the North
Mike Smith
Have you ever wondered what it is like to forecast fire weather north of 60°? Little cell coverage, few roads and people, a lot of moose, and weeks without a sunset. If you're familiar with the Red Book and the FWI system, you'll recognize that this violates some of the assumptions. Mike Smith shares challenges, tips, and tricks to forecasting in the north, and discusses the importance of community and relationships. Recorded 2025/04/11.
Fire weather forecasting: what's it like to work in fire meteorology?
Brett Soderholm & the CIFFC Meteorology Working Group
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a fire weather meteorologist with Brett Soderholm (BCWS) and the CIFFC Meteorology Working Group! Panelists share insights into their work, the information they rely on, and what insights they’d find valuable from those using their forecasts. The session highlights fire weather meteorology as a career path and explores its real-world impact. Recorded 2025/03/14.
February Flare Up - Week 4: Fire Intelligence, Intuition, and Good Judgement
Jonathan Reimer
Wildfire management is experiencing an information boom: predictive services, remote sensing, machine learning, and models of models. Is it improving decisions and outcomes on the ground? Join Jonathan Reimer for a look at practical tools wildfire managers and agencies can use to ​support decision-makers and improve outcomes. Recorded 2025/02/28.
February Flare Up - Week 3: CFS Wildfire Intelligence and Predictive Services: Your Friendly Neighbourhood Support Resource
Brett Moore, Sam LaCarte, Rachel Dietrich, and Jon Large
Learn about the emerging Wildfire Intelligence and Predictive Services (WIPS) support team at the Canadian Forest Service! Formed in response to the increasingly complex wildfire seasons and the need for coordinated support to CIFFC partner agencies, WIPS plays a crucial role in national wildfire management. Recorded 2025/02/21.
February Flare Up - Week 2: Supporting Wildland Fire Suppression, Restoration, and Prevention by Advancing Analysis Tools
Daan Aerts
Daan shares how he is building a wildfire analysis platform designed to provide accessible, scalable, and cost-effective solutions, Wildflyer aims to empower wildfire managers with the tools they need—without the high costs and technical complexity that have traditionally limited adoption.
Join us as we explore how better access to data can lead to smarter, faster, and more coordinated wildfire response across Europe. Recorded 2025/05/02.
February Flare Up - Week 1: Practitioner Perspectives on Wildfire Intel
Neal McLoughlin
Intelligence is the backbone of decision making under pressure. As we collectively strive to improve wildfire management in the face of accelerating fire regimes, how we define intelligence is important. Join Neal and three of his colleagues from the BC Wildfire Service as they provide perspectives on the challenges and opportunities encountered at incident, regional, and provincial scales. Recorded 2025/02/07.
Application of fireexposuR: an R package for computing and visualizing wildfire exposure
Air Forbes
Learn more about fireexposuR, an R package for the computation and visualization of wildfire exposure assessments. PhD candidate Air Forbes walks us through demonstrations of various use-cases, scales of assessment, and geographic areas. Recorded 2025/01/10.
Fuel distributions in Jasper National Park before the Wildfire Complex: MPB and 20 yrs of FireSmart
Tristan Skretting
Jasper National Park has an abundance of altered fuels – from extensive mountain pine beetle impacts and 20 years of community FireSmart initiatives. As Tristan prepared to defend her thesis in the Spring of 2024, her study area burned in the Jasper Wildfire Complex, providing unique opportunities for future studies. Tristan discusses pre-fire efforts to characterize the fuels at a high level of detail using field and airborne lidar data. Recorded 2024/12/13
Fuel types misrepresent forest structure and composition in interior British Columbia: A way forward
Dr. Jen Baron
Accurate fuel typing is essential for effective wildfire management. Dr.Jen Baron's presentation explores the accuracy of fuel type maps in interior BC, comparing on-site assessments to existing maps. We discuss the limitations of current methods and explore potential improvements for future fuel characterizations across various forest types. Recorded 2024/11/08
Occupational Smoke Exposure Mitigation for Canadian Wildland Firefighters: A Human-Centered Design and Translational Research Approach
Sumegha Jain, Janna Mohamed, and Arani Ravichandran
Discover how innovative translational research methods can be used to move evidence into impact in wildland firefighting health. Follow along as three MHSc graduate students in Translational Research at the University of Toronto share their Capstone project progress as they strive to develop occupational smoke mitigation strategies for wildland firefighters. Recorded 2024/05/22
Exploring Fatigue in Wildland Firefighters: Understanding the Links Between Sleep, Shift Length, Stress, and Brain Function
Jesse Wallace-Webb
Jesse Wallace-Webb talks about the pressing issue of workplace fatigue in wildfire agencies. Based on his master's research, he explores how poor sleep and long work hours impact worker health and safety. Jesse emphasizes recognizing individual differences and introduces Fatigue Risk Management Systems as potential solutions. Drawing from his experience with the B.C Wildfire Service, Jesse offers valuable insights and strategies for addressing fatigue in wildfire settings. Recorded 2024/05/10
Mapping the distance between fire hazard and disaster for communities in Canadian forests
Dr. Xianli Wang, Tom Swystun, Colin McFayden
Wildfires pose a mounting challenge for communities across Canada. But how close is the risk, and where is it likely to come from? Understanding firesheds – the potential areas where wildfires could originate and spread toward communities – is essential for risk management. This webinar introduces innovative new research that maps firesheds, fire spread timelines, and fire pathways for nearly 2,000 Canadian forest communities. Recorded 2024/04/12
Making “Good Fire”: A behind-the-scenes look at podcasting for science communication
Dr. Amy Cardinal Christianson and Matthew Kristoff
Discover the strategies behind a hit podcast with Amy Cardinal Christianson (Parks Canada) and Matthew Kristoff (YourForest podcast). Get tips for: - Turning your wildfire expertise into compelling stories - Reaching a wider audience with your message - Making your podcast a success.
Recorded 2024/03/08
February Flare Up - Health Edition Week 4: Addressing Mental and Physical Health of Wildland Firefighters in Canada
Explore current well-being initiatives for Canadian wildland firefighters with members of the BC Wildfire Service and Canada Wildfire. Learn about efforts in respiratory protection, fatigue, mental health, and so much more. Listen in on the discussions about incorporating these initiatives into practices.
Recorded 2024/02/23
February Flare Up - Health Edition Week 3: Firefighter Occupational Exposures to Combustion-derived Toxicants of Concern
Dr. Paul White and Maria Sharpe
Dr. Paul White, Research Scientist at the Enironmental Health Science & Research Bureau, Health Canada, talks about the carcinogenic hazards of firefighting, firefighters’ occupational exposures to combustion-derived carcinogens, and the efficacy of skin decontamination to mitigate exposure. Maria Sharpe, Fire Science Manager, CIFFC, speaks about the recent Canadian Fire Chiefs Association Workshop on Presumptive Cancer: Exploring the Relationship with Wildland Fires, Results, and Follow-up Measures. Recorded 2024/02/16
February Flare Up - Health Edition Week 2: Resiliency and Residue in Mission Critical Roles
Dr. Preston Cline
Dr. Preston Cline, Director of Research, Co-Founder, and Principal at the Mission Critical Team Institute, discusses the importance of protecting your mental health and building resilience when working in mission critical roles, especially during challenging situations like wildland fires. Recorded 2024/02/09
February Flare Up - Health Edition Week 1: Wildfire Smoke - The Knowns and the Unknowns
Dr. Sarah Henderson and Brian Wiens
Discover the impact of wildfire smoke on health in this webinar featuring Dr. Sarah Henderson, Scientific Director of Environmental Health Services at BCCDC. Explore the contents of wildfire smoke, its effects, and effective health protection strategies. Brian Wiens, Managing Director at Canada Wildfire, will discuss smoke forecast models to help you make informed health decisions. Recorded 2024/02/02
The record-breaking 2023 fire season in Canada
Piyush Jain
In this webinar, Piyush Jain, a Research Scientist with the Canadian Forest Service, discusses the record-breaking 2023 Canadian fire season. The season witnessed the largest area burned in modern history, impacting communities with unprecendent evacuations, prolonged smoke, and strained firefighting resources. Piyush emphasizes the key drivers, attributing the exceptional fires to extreme weather and drought conditions during the spring. Recorded 2024/01/12
BurnP3+: A new multi-model burn probability simulator based on Burn-P3
Chris Stockdale
During our December webinar we heard all about the latest and greatest updates in BurnP3+. Chris and Leo discuss basic concepts of burn probability modelling, talk about SynchroSim, show demonstrations of the new BurnP3+ software, and explain the differences between BurnP3+ and the original version. Set yourself up with the information you need to get started using the software! Recorded 2023/12/08
Modelling 100: An introduction to modelling ranging from slide rules to super computers
Brian Wiens
In this interactive webinar, Brian explores modelling basics including scale analysis, assumptions, unknowns, how to find meaning from model outputs, and the art of communication. This seminar was interactive with several online whiteboard exercises, chat-facilitated sharing, and live discussion from a diverse group- from beginner to expert modellers and model users. Recorded 2023/11/10
Epic adventure 2023: Measuring fuels coincident with airborne and drone lidar at sites across western Canada
Laura Chasmer
Dr. Chasmer discusses the 2023 field season. From planning and installation of NG-CFFDRS fuel plots, to the use of airborne lidar to determine how fuels vary across the landscape, 2023 marked the third year of fuel plot installation following >20yrs forest mensuration plots. Benefits, challenges, considerations, and next steps for creating operational field to lidar-based tools for fire fuel assessment and management are also discussed. Recorded 2023/10/13
Grassland Fire Research Database: Analysis of the Impact of Fire on Grassland Productivity and Diversity
Dinyar Minocher and Roy Vera-Velez
In this webinar recording, join Dinyar and Roy as they dive into the Canadian Prairies Prescribed Fire Exchange (CPPFE) and its role in promoting effective fire practices among various stakeholders. Explore the CPPFE's grassland fire research database, a vital resource for fire practitioners, and gain insights from their quantitative analysis, revealing the impact of fire on grassland productivity and diversity. Recorded 2023/09/08
Simulating fire regimes in SpaDES: parameter estimation for landscape fire models
Steven Cumming
Learn about the use of percolation theory in modelling wildland fire! Professor Cumming talks about a current study introducing the SpaDES platform for ecological modelling and its automatic parameter estimation. Potential applications to other systems and complex fire regime characterizations are also explored. Recorded 2023/08/11
Far Out: An overview of BC Wildfire Service’s Seasonal Outlooks
Matt McDonald
In this webinar recording, delve into wildfire weather forecasting with Matt MacDonald, the Lead Fire Weather Forecaster for the BC Wildfire Service's Predictive Services Unit (PSU). Gain insights into the production of monthly seasonal outlooks and updates, and discover their critical role in informing agencies, staff, and the media. Matt MacDonald shares his expertise and insights. Recorded 2023/06/09
Airtanker management analytics
Dave Martell
Learn about airtanker management analytics from Dave Martell, Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto, and research lead with the Canada Wildfire NSERC Strategic Network. Dr. Martell describes how he and some of his colleagues have exploited analytics to develop decision support systems designed to inform airtanker management. He also discusses some perceived successes and important emerging needs. Recorded 2023/04/14
Increasing Bolivian fire management capacity through Canadian technical assistance
Jane Park and Mike May
Jane and Mike talk about the effects of wildfires on Bolivian communities and ecosystems, the current realities of fire management in Bolivia, and how the Technical Assistance Partnership is assisting various Bolivian agencies in dealing with wildfires and mitigating negative effects on communities and ecosystems. Recorded 2023/03/01
February Flare Up - Climate change and climate adaptation edition: Week 4 - Onward
Jesse Ellis and Nick Nauslar
The final session of February Flare Up 2023 discusses the use of climate data in fire operations, the US National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook, and the drivers of seasonal and long-term forecasts. Moderated by Mike Flannigan, Professor and Research Chair for Predictive Services, Emergency Management and Fire Science, Thompson Rivers University. Recorded 2023/02/24
February Flare Up - Climate change and climate adaptation edition: Week 3 - Applications & Tools
Ian Mauro, Christey Allen, Matt Loxley, Jeremy Fyke, Andreas Hamann, and Tongli Wang
Learn about data sets and products, including: ClimateAtlas, ClimateNA, and FWI Climate Change Projections. Listen as our speakers cover topics such as available datasets, examples of scenario selection, best practices, appropriate use, limitations, and the possibility of using recent climate trends in addition to climate change scenarios. Moderated by Brian Wiens, Managing Director of Canada Wildfire. Recorded 2023/02/17
February Flare Up - Climate change and climate adaptation edition: Week 2 - Historical
Trisha Hook, and Kendrick Brown
Historical climate and fire regime perspectives, data sets, and benefits discussed by Trisha Hook, and Kendrick Brown. Moderated by Dr. Jill Harvey, Canada Research Chair in Fire Ecology & Assistant Professor, Thompson Rivers University. Recorded 2023/02/10
February Flare Up - Climate change and climate adaptation edition: Week 1 - Fundamentals
Jeremy Fyke
What is climate, and why is understanding climate important? What physical processes influence global climate? What is the difference between weather and climate? ... and so much more! Featuring Jeremy Fyke, Coordinator, Canadian Centre for Climate Services, ECCC, and moderated by Brian Wiens, Managing Director of Canada Wildfire. Recorded 2023/02/03
Canada Wildfire: to infinity and beyond
Brian Wiens, Mike Flannigan, and Bruce Mayer
In 2022, Canada Wildfire members worked collaboratively to generate an updated strategic plan to guide Canada Wildfire's trajectory. Strategic Plan 2022-2027 was developed to reflect the changes of the broader fire community, where we are all learning to accommodate a changing fire climate (both politically and physically). Recorded 2023/01/13
Use of RPAS (aka drones) for wildfire mitigation, operations, modeling, and research directions
Jeff Boisvert and Liam Bennett
Learn about collecting data with drones and how data can be turned into useful information and meaningful decision support tools. Dr. Boisvert and Liam Bennett discuss drone selection, typical uses for drones in wildfire mitigation and operations, current research, and difficulties. Recorded 2022/12/09
Wildfire Intelligence Simulation Engine (WISE) and the future of Canadian fire growth modelling software
Franco Norgarin, Neal McLoughlin, and Brett Moore
Learn about the core ambitions of the WISE development team, how you can engage with and support the project, and see examples of how this technology is already being implemented in Canada and abroad. Recorded 2022/11/18
From laser points to information: Using lidar to quantify pre- and post-fire vegetation structure
Laura Chasmer & Chris Hopkinson
Dr. Chasmer and Dr. Hopkinson introduce the physics and technology of lidar remote sensing and discuss how lidar technology can be used at multiple spatial scales. They demonstrate how lidar can be used to quantify spatial and temporal variations in pre-fire fuels, and post-fire impacts to ecosystems. Recorded 2022/10/14
Insects and wildfire in the boreal forest
Patrick James
In this talk, Dr. James presents the current framework for thinking about insect-fire interactions. He shares ongoing work in his lab examining how outbreaks of forest insect pests such as the spruce budworm and jack pine budworm affect fuel abundance and connectivity and what this means for current and future wildfire hazard. Recorded 2022/09/09
Wildfires and climate change – the new reality
Mike Flannigan
A warmer world means longer fire seasons, more lightning activity, and most importantly drier fuels. Our fire regime is driven by extremes, and we expect an increase in frequency and intensity of extreme fire weather episodes. Climate change will likely mean more wildfire in the future for many regions of the world including Canada. Recorded 2022/08/12
Lightning fire occurrence prediction - modelling for operational use
Mike Wotton
This presentation is for both academic and operational audience in Canada's wildfire community. You will learn about lightning fire ignition and the important processes that determine the day to day variation of this important source of summertime fire activity in Canada. Recorded 2022/07/08
Mission Critical Teams: reflection, reset, and residue in wildland fire management
Preston B. Cline
Dr. Preston Cline presents Mission Critical Team training, a way to resolve complex adaptive problems in an immersive, but constrained (five minutes or less) temporal environments, where the consequence of failure can be critical. Recorded 2022/06/13
Our future with fire: barriers and opportunities for the revitalization of fire stewardship
Kira Hoffman
In this webinar, Dr. Hoffman describes some of the factors that have contributed to the recent impactful wildfire seasons experienced in British Columbia in the last five years. She discusses some of the barriers to applying controlled fire to the broader landbase and the importance of supporting Indigenous-led fire stewardship. Recorded 2022/05/13
More fire, more people, less water: exploring wildfire risks to water security in a changing world
François-Nicolas Robinne
Learn about: how forests contribute to water security; how fire, forests, and humans interact to impact water security; what is the state of wildfire-watershed risk research in Canada; and what are the tools, methods, and data available to advance research and management of wildfire risks to water security. Recorded 2022/04/08
Wildfire perimeter mapping from Landsat satellite imagery
Rob Skakun
Introduction to the fundamentals of post-fire mapping using Landsat satellite imagery. This presentation highlights how fire perimeters derived from Landsat have improved estimations of burned area over conventional mapping methods and, as an application example, demonstrate the use of these perimeters to assess undisturbed woodland caribou habitat in a northern boreal forest. Recorded 2022/02/18
Accessing and processing spatial data in Google Earth Engine for fire applications
Ellen Whitman
This presentation highlights some examples of recent wildfire research developed using Google Earth Engine. The audience will be introduced to the Earth Engine data catalog and will be shown demonstrations of publicly available code and Earth Engine applications. Recorded 2022/02/18
Remote sensing basics for wildland fire applications
Ron Goodson
This presentation overviews remote sensing fundamentals from a wildland fire perspective. Topics include satellite orbits, resolution, channels, radiation, basic feature recognition, and an introduction to satellite products. Recorded 2022/02/11