Delighted to share a new #firetech podcast episode––Innovating on the Frontlines with Neil Chapman! @neilchappy Listen here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas… I've been fascinated by the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission's recommendation to expand the prescribed fire workforce by cross-training potentially a million structural firefighters in applying beneficial fire. In this episode, Neil tells us the background story of how this came to be and what federal, state, and local agencies are doing to bolster the prescribed fire workforce of America @IAFC_WFP #prescribedfire #TREX This interagency effort is a great example of systems innovation at work! It's not just about what tools and technologies we adopt, it's about how we can modernize governance systems and repurpose workforce capabilities. Among many other important topics, we also talk about the urgent need to address structural mitigation efforts that protect the built environment. Neil outlines why it will be important to closely work with communities to implement the ‘mitigations that matter’ at the pace and scale required, now and into the future.  I hope you enjoy this episode, and please share widely. Finally, be sure to take the State of FireTech 2024 Survey (do it now!) so your perspective can be represented in the upcoming Annual Update: surveymonkey.com/r/firetech2… Thank you! @WonderLabs1

Delighted to share some *light* holiday reading: The State of FireTech 2023 Annual Update! It builds on the first State of FireTech Report (2022) to examine emerging trends in how FireTech—the development & application of science, data, & technology—can enable effective and equitable wildfire risk management outcomes. The In Brief document summarizes key wildfire trends, emerging FireTech categories, policy and funding tailwinds, and the State of FireTech 2023 Survey results. Available here: wonder-labs.org/uploads/6/4/… Also check out the State of FireTech 2023 Annual Update main report for a deep dive analysis on trends and findings: wonder-labs.org/uploads/6/4/… Section I––Year in Review, identifies three key trends that will increasingly influence the future of innovation and investments in wildfire risk management: 1. Changing fire regimes in the WUI will need better methods to identify ‘fires that matter’; 2. Increasingly urban impacts of fires highlight the need to prioritize ‘mitigations that matter’; 3. Smoke exposure and toxicity will require better smoke management to save lives. Section II––State of FireTech Survey, presents findings from the inaugural State of FireTech Survey (many thanks to all who responded over the summer!). Key findings point to a general misalignment between innovation trends, end user needs, and funding priorities. Implications for what's next: In addition to a continued focus on improving early detection and enhancing risk assessment methodologies, it is now clear that scaling the implementation of wildfire mitigation and adaptation actions will be critical to contain future losses and damages. #mitigationmatters Happy reading! @MooreFound @WonderLabs1 @convectivecap @MegafireAction @FAScientists @UNDRR #FireTech #wildfires #technology