Wildfire workshop supports community preparedness and education

Over two dozen educators and community members from across Alaska delved into wildfire last month during the five-day Wildfire and My Community workshop. The event connected Elders, educators, scientists, and wildland fire managers. They focused on wildfire safety, community preparedness, and educational strategies to enhance understanding of wildfires and their impact on Alaska’s ecosystems and communities. 

The workshop was led by the International Arctic Research Center’s Arctic & Earth SIGNs program in collaboration with the GLOBE program, Association of Interior Native Educators, Alaska Fire Science Consortium (AFSC), UAF Geographic Information Network of Alaska, and the National Weather Service. 

AFSC’s Wildfire Walk was a keystone location for the workshop making it possible to put boots on the ground at an actual burn site. Hilary Shook, AFSC program coordinator, and a wildfire manager guided workshop participants on the interpretive trail, and a local homeowner shared their experience of having a wildfire just over 300 feet from their home. 

While at the Yankovich Road Fire, participants learned to measure vegetation, permafrost, burn scars, and weather conditions. These measurements contributed to long term monitoring that has been happening at the site since the burn in 2021. The workshop also explored ways to incorporate wildfire activities into their home classrooms and implement community monitoring at local wildfire scars near participants’ communities. 

Back in the classroom participants explored wildfires via satellite data. They looked at the Yankovich Road Fire imagery to learn how satellites help detect burnt areas and scars, monitor wildfire progression, and forecast wildfire danger.

These activities were particularly impactful because many participants were from tundra communities where wildfires are increasing in frequency but historically rare. “A lot of folks came from areas that aren’t fire prone, but that’s changing. This workshop was really proactive. It helps people be prepared and takes the fear out of it,” said Shook, AFSC program coordinator. “This was a good educational experience to get ahead of the curve.”

The learning won’t stop after the workshop. Participants will return to their communities to implement a local project on wildfire with youth.

 “Some of the initial plans are exciting, from testing water quality in places affected by fire, to investigating the fuel loads in a 20 year old burn and adjacent unburned sites,” said Katie Spellman, one of the workshop leads and an IARC professor.