WUI Working Group Initiative

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ABOUT THE WUI WORKING GROUP INITIATIVE

Motivation & Purpose

Over the past few years, the SFPE Foundation developed a model to engage our community of fire engineering researchers and practitioners in developing and implementing  engineering solutions, all of which are guided by answering the question: “What can fire engineers contribute to addressing the problem of fires in the WUI?” through the WUI Working Group (WUI WG) Initiative. The WUI WG consists primarily of engineers including fire engineering research academics, but it also benefits from the inclusion of practitioners and members of the fire service who help guide the group in identifying areas of greatest need for engineering-based solutions and support. Initial planning meetings for this new initiative with participation from 20 global experts in the field began in January and February 2022. 

Approach (2022-2023)
Initially, the WUI Working Group (WUI WG) convened to develop an outline of the areas where fire engineering can contribute to addressing the problem of fire and related hazards in the WUI. The WUI WG was co-led by Alexander Maranghides, National Institute of Standards and Technology and Albert Simeoni, Worcester Polytechnic Institute. 

The WUI WG was divided along three modules:

  • Individual Asset Protection
  • Community Evacuation & Notification
  • Community Wildland Fire Protection

Members of the WUI WG met in their module teams approximately every 4-6 weeks from June – December 2022.  The three modules completed a template designed to guide the creation of an outline of the handbook content in their chosen topic area.  By creating a “Table of Contents” for a theoretical WUI Fire Engineering Handbook, the WG defined the scope and range of areas where fire engineering expertise can contribute globally. Based on this effort, the WUI WG worked with SFPE Foundation staff to hold virtual WUI Virtual Summits February - March 2023. At the WUI Virtual Summits, module leads presented their progress to date for feedback from the broader community and external stakeholders. See more information about the 2023 WUI Summits below. 

Approach (2024-2025)

Building on the 2023 WUI Virtual Summits, Dr. Pascale Vacca wrote The Contributions of Fire Engineering in Addressing the WUI Fire Problem [White Paper]. Public comment was accepted in April 2025. The final version of the white paper was released in July 2025.

The WUI Working Group resumed regular meetings in July 2025. If you would like to participate, please contact Lisa VanBuskirk, SFPE Foundation WUI Initiatives Program Manager. 

Beginning in July 2025, the WUI Working Group will be organized to align with the knowledge gaps identified in the White Paper. 

WUI Working Group Initiative Co-Chairs: 
  • Pascale Vacca, CERTEC (Spain)
  • Pedro Reszka, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (Chile)
  • Max Kinateder, National Research Council (Canada)
WUI Working Group Modules: 
  • WUI Fire Research
  • WUI Fire Education 
  • WUI Policy Implementation 

THE 2023 VIRTUAL WUI SUMMIT

Dates: February 15, 22, 28, and March 14, 2023

The SFPE Foundation is grateful to the US Department of Homeland Security FEMA Fire Prevention & Safety Grants program for funding to help support the virtual WUI Summit. 

February 15, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm ET
SFPE Foundation WUI Summit
Module 1: Individual Asset Protection
Description: This session focused on individual asset protection, including topics such as: scenario definitions, risk assessment, parcel exposure (structure and immediate surroundings; structure hardening and exposures from adjacent parcels, including wildlands; new and existing parcels; residential, commercial, and critical infrastructure and emergency services at the individual parcel level), and hazard and fuel treatments (response resources available; hazards protection, including chemical facilities, ammunition facilities, etc.).
Presented by:
Elsa Pastor, CERTEC (Spain)
Pedro Reszka, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (Chile)
Pascale Vacca, CERTEC (Spain)
With support from:
Alexander Maranghides, National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA)
Albert Simeoni, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (USA)
Leslie Marshall, SFPE Foundation (USA)

February 22, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm ET
SFPE Foundation WUI Summit
Module 3: Community Wildland Fire Protection
Description: This session focused on community wildland fire protection, including topics such as: community hazard assessment (frameworks; GIS), community design and protection (new and existing; informal settlements; community access for response; shelter in place), and infrastructure hardening at the community or enterprise level (water system; electrical distribution; water quality; heat, gas, etc.; hospitals; continuity of government facilities at the system-wide level).
Presented by:
Domingos Viegas, University of Coimbra (Portugal)
Dee Withee, Colorado Springs Fire Department (USA)
With support from:
Alexander Maranghides, National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA)
Albert Simeoni, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (USA)
Leslie Marshall, SFPE Foundation (USA)

February 28, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm ET
SFPE Foundation WUI Summit
Module 2: Community Notification & Evacuation
Description: This session focused on community notification and evacuation, including topics such as: notification (communication systems; trigger points), and evacuation (egress lanes/population; egress arteries and vegetative clearances; safety zones in community; capacity standards, clearances, and exposures; vulnerable populations; traffic control; trigger points and tie-in to notification).
Presented by:
George Braga, Fire Service (Brazil)
Max Kinateder, National Research Council (Canada)
Rino Lovreglio, Massey University (New Zealand)
With support from:
Alexander Maranghides, National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA)
Albert Simeoni, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (USA)
Leslie Marshall, SFPE Foundation (USA)

March 14, 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm ET
SFPE Foundation WUI Summit
WUI Engineering Science for the Fire Service
Description: This session focused on engineering-based knowledge, resources, and tools in each of the module areas (individual asset protection, community notification and evacuation, and community wildland fire protection) that could be applied to help address unmet training needs for fire departments operating in Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) areas. It will include a presentation of a draft curriculum for engineering-based training specifically designed for the (U.S.) fire service. Fire service personnel and related stakeholders are strongly encouraged to attend to help refine the training curriculum and content focus.
Presented by:
The SFPE Foundation