WUI Working Group Initiative

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ANNOUNCING THE 2023 VIRTUAL WUI SUMMIT

Dates: February 15, 22, 28, and March 14, 2023
Cost: Free to all
Registration:
Closed 
Description:
Over the past three years, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) has been developing a model to engage our community of researchers and practitioners in developing and implementing engineering solutions, all of which are guided by answering the question: “What can fire engineering contribute to addressing the problem of fire and related hazards in the WUI?” Since January 2022, more than 100 volunteers from around the world have worked to answer this question through the SFPE Foundation WUI Working Group Initiative. Divided into three module teams: (1) Individual Asset Protection, (2) Community Notification & Evacuation, and (3) Community Wildland Fire Protection, this group has completed a draft outline of the scope and range of areas where fire engineering can contribute practical knowledge, tools, and methods globally. Now, we are seeking feedback and input from a broader range of stakeholders operating in the Wildland-Urban Interface – including practitioners, partner organizations and agencies, government, companies, academic researchers, fire service personnel, among others – who can help guide this work so that we identify and prioritize the areas of greatest need where engineering-based solutions can have the greatest impact. This is a working meeting, free and open to all, and active participation is encouraged. Registration is required. Please join us to help shape the future of fire engineering in the WUI. 

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 will focus 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 will focus 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 will focus 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 will focus 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 

ABOUT THE WUI WORKING GROUP INITIATIVE


Motivation & Purpose

Over the past three years, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE) has been developing a model to engage our community of 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?” Now, we are moving forward with the WUI Working Group Initiative through the SFPE Foundation, a nonprofit affiliated with SFPE whose mission is to facilitate research and education that advances the scientific understanding of fire and its interaction with the natural and built environments. Initial planning meetings for this new initiative with participation from 20 global experts in the field were held in January and February 2022.

Approach
Moving forward, the WUI Working Group (WG) will convene to develop an outline of the areas where fire engineering can contribute to addressing the problem of fire and related hazards in the WUI. This draft “Table of Contents” for a theoretical WUI Fire Engineering Handbook will set out to define the scope and range of areas where fire engineering expertise can contribute globally. The WUI WG will consist primarily of engineers, and especially fire engineers, but it will also benefit from the inclusion of practitioners and members of the fire service who can help guide the group in identifying areas of greatest need for engineering-based solutions and support.

Members of the WUI WG will meet in their module teams approximately every 4-6 weeks from June – December 2022 and complete a template designed to guide the creation of an outline of the handbook content in their chosen topic area. The WUI WG will also work with SFPE Foundation staff to plan the program for a virtual WUI Symposium to be held February - March 2023. At the WUI Summit, module leads will present their progress to date for feedback from the broader community and external stakeholders.

WUI Working Group Initiative Co-Chairs: 
  • Alexander Maranghides, National Institute of Standards and Technology (USA)
  • Albert Simeoni, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (USA)
Module 1 (Individual Asset Protection) Co-Leads:
  • Pascale Vacca & Elsa Pastor, CERTEC (Spain)
  • Pedro Reszka, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (Chile)
Module 2 (Community Evacuation & Notification) Co-Leads:
  • George Braga, Fire Service (Brazil)
  • Max Kinateder, National Research Council (Canada)
  • Rino Lovreglio, Massey University (New Zealand)
Module 3 (Community Wildland Fire Protection) Co-Leads:
  • Domingos Viegas, University of Coimbra (Portugal)
  • Dee Withee, Colorado Springs Fire Department (USA)