Canadian Fire Behavior Specialists Panel Discussion
March 30 2022 | 1200-1300 MDT
We will be bringing together fire behavior analysts from different parts of the country, each panelist will be asked to answer the question:
- Based on your field observations in recent years, what factor related to fire behavior is keeping you up at night?
Through a combination of presentation and conversation the panelists will discuss these topics of concern.
PANELISTS:
Matthew Johnson is a Fire Management Officer at Terra Nova National Park. Graduated in 2007 from Lakehead University with an Honours Bachelor of Sciences Degree in Forestry. 15 seasons involved in wildfire with both the Government of Alberta in the Calgary and High Level offices then with Parks Canada at Grasslands, Cape Breton Highlands and now Terra Nova. Served many roles in a variety of functions: Division Supervisor, Heavy Equipment Group Supervisor, Supply Unit Leader. Currently filling the role or FBAN over the last six seasons with Parks Canada. Fires of note as FBAN: 2017 - Kenow Wildfire in Waterton Lakes NP, 2018 - Wardle Fire in Kootenay NP and 2021 - Lytton Creek Complex in BC. In his spare time, he likes to go hiking, camping and spend time with his family at their newly purchased home based hobby orchard.
Normand Lacour is the Base Manager in the west area of the northern modified response zone for SOPFEU, a non-profits organization who act as Québec’s wildfire agency. Normand received his forest management technician diploma in 1992 at Rouyn-Noranda. He started in 1989 as seasonal flying observer for wildfire detection. He was hired as a wildfire technician in 1996 and attended AWFB in Fredericton that fall, followed by the 1997 WFBS course in Hinton. Normand has been involved in the French version of AWFB translation and delivery since 1998 and the WFBS course since 2008.
Tanya Letcher is the Provincial Fire Behavior Specialist at the Alberta Wildfire Coordination Centre in Edmonton, and fills the role of FBAN on one of the Provincial Incident Management Teams. As a fire practitioner for more than 20 years, Letcher has also worked as a Wildfire Management Specialist in Lac La Biche, a Wildfire Training Specialist at the Hinton Training Centre, and a Parks’ Canada Fire Management Officer in both Jasper and Wood Buffalo National Parks.