The Colorado Wildland Fire Conference will be live in Grand Junction September 22nd & 23rd, with additional pre-conference and post-conference workshops all week.

Keynotes

September 22nd

A Fire Story

Brian Fies

September 23rd  

The Wildland Fire Challenge: How we got here - What's Next

Bill Hahnenberg

Additional pre- and post-conference workshops and tours will include:

Building Your FAC Ambassador Approach Workshop

Monday, Sept 20 at 1:00-4:30 pm and Tuesday, Sept 21 8:30 am - 4:30 pm

Through a FAC Ambassador approach, practitioners can empower local residents to be catalysts for wildfire adaptation in their neighborhoods. This workshop will be led by Wildfire Adapted Partnership staff based out of Durango, CO. The approach presented in this workshop provides a structure to recruit and train volunteers, work with partners and support community events. In the fall of 2018, the FAC Ambassador Toolkit was officially launched, and this workshop will expand upon ideas presented in the toolkit.

Attendees will be able to work through the toolkit to plan how to launch or grow a similar volunteer approaches in their communities. Topics include: enabling conditions, volunteer recruitment, how to engage partners, the role of coordinators in communicating with ambassadors, etc. Attendees will also be provided additional resources to help them launch their own FAC Ambassador program.

Colorado Prescribed Fire Council Workshop

Sep 21, 2021 | 0900 - 1130

The Colorado Prescribed Fire Council will facilitate a set of discussions about topics that organizations should consider before creating a prescribed fire program. The presentations will include a brief review of the Colorado Department of Health and Environment Air Quality permit program and issues of smoke management; Division of Fire Prevention and Control regulations, guidelines and state law; what type of things to consider when starting a new program; and finally special considerations when burning in a highly urban environment.

Riparian & WUI Fire Tour & Mitigation Conversation

Sep 21, 2021 | 1300 - 1630

This tour will be led by Colorado Parks and Wildlife to Connected Lakes at James M. Robb-Colorado River State Park. On July 4, 2019 riparian fire burned through the state park and adjacent open space near a neighborhood. This tour will include a discussion of mitigation efforts pre-ignition, emergency response and reclamation after the fire. An additional state parks riverfront stop near the WUI will illuminate challenges and potential solutions associated with mitigation of fuels in public spaces that abut backyards

Bicycle Ride

Sep 21, 2021 | 1400 - 1630

Bicycle the Lunch Loops Trail System with fellow wildfire folk. The trailhead is a 15 minute drive from the hotel and group rides will include easy and more challenging options. Have some fun in Grand Junction. If you don't want to travel with a bike, but want to join, Grand Junction has multiple bicycle rental shops or let organizers know you'd like to join and we'll work to accommodate you.

Tap House Social

Tentatively set for Handlebar Tap House

Sep 21, 2021 | 1700 - 1830

Resource Mobilization Overview & Tour of Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management and Aviation

Sep 23, 2021 | 1600 - 1800

This add-on opportunity is for participants who are interested in learning more about what firefighting resources are available in western Colorado and how they are prioritized and mobilized for incidents. The Geographic Area Coordination Center (GACC) is located at the Grand Junction Airport, less than 2 miles from the conference location. This is a great bonus for participants who don't need to head out immediately.

The rich content will also include optional networking events, exhibitor booths, and posters on FAC support around the state. See the initial schedule here.