TRU Wildfire
TRU Wildfire
As climate change intensifies, the need to address the risks and threats from wildfires grows increasingly urgent. TRU understands this urgency and has prioritized the development of integrated research, education, training and innovation in wildfire. This is what TRU Wildfire is all about.
TRU is thrilled to announce our partnership with BC Wildfire Service to create and deliver new research, learning and innovative opportunities in addressing the changing nature of wildfire.
The province also plans to build a state-of-the art training and education centre to train wildland firefighters, communities and students. Late last year, TRU established the Institute for Wildfire Science, Adaptation and Resiliency, under the direction of Scientific Director Dr. Mike Flannigan, our provincially funded Innovation Research Chair. Together, the new institute and opportunities presented by the partnership with BCWS will create a world-class wildfire learning, research and innovation ecosystem to support the creation of wildfire knowledge from research to practice.
This first-of-its kind partnership will allow the province to better prevent, prepare for, mitigate and respond to the changing nature of wildfire.
Announcing TRU’s part in a broad, collaborative effort with the B.C. government to address the unprecedented impact of wildfire on people and communities across the province.
Watch the short clip of highlights from the announcement (below) or read the full news release.
The reality of wildfires
Wildfire has become a common occurrence in Canada, with thousands of fires burning an average 2.6 million hectares — half the size of Nova Scotia — in each year of the past decade.
In BC, the three most active fire years occurred between 2017 and 2023, burning more land than in the previous 58 years combined. In 2021, fire destroyed the town of Lytton, BC, and was responsible for the deaths of two people.
Wildfire activity jumped significantly across Canada in 2023, resulting in the second-highest total area burned since 1950. The repercussions were devastating; eight firefighters died, buildings were destroyed in numerous communities and thousands of Canadians were displaced in BC, Alberta, Quebec, Ontario, Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories.
Extreme fire weather and fire activity is predicted to continue. With rising temperatures and increased drought conditions due to climate change, Canada must prepare for prolonged and severe wildfire seasons.
Institute for Wildfire Science, Adaptation and Resiliency
The establishment of the wildfire institute is a significant step forward in supporting Canadians with solutions to the reality of living with wildfires. This groundbreaking research institute will spearhead studies and innovations aimed at preventing, mitigating, responding to and recovering from wildfires.
Learn more about the instituteOur experts
TRU’s team of wildfire experts is unparalleled. We are the lone Canadian university with two research chairs dedicated solely to wildfire science. Our experts are leading research on a wide array of fire-related topics including wildfire behaviour, landscape fire modelling, ecosystem changes resulting from wildfire, emergency management, and sociocultural and economic impacts of climate change.
Dr. Mike Flannigan BC Chair in Predictive Services, Emergency Management and Fire Science Dr. Jill Harvey Canada Research Chair in Fire Ecology Dr. Lauchlan Fraser NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Ecological Reclamation View the wildfire teamThompson Rivers University campuses are on the traditional lands of the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc (Kamloops campus) and the T’exelc (Williams Lake campus) within Secwepemcúl’ecw, the traditional and unceded territory of the Secwépemc. The region TRU serves also extends into the territories of the St’át’imc, Nlaka’pamux, Nuxalk, Tŝilhqot'in, Dakelh, and Syilx peoples.
