Partners and Sponsors

STRATEGIC PARTNERS

EPA Office of Research and Development: and Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment

Science at EPA provides the foundation for credible decision-making to safeguard human health and ecosystems from environmental pollutants. The Office of Research and Development (ORD) is the scientific research arm of EPA, whose leading-edge research helps provide the solid underpinning of science and technology for the Agency.

ORD supports six research programs that identify the most pressing environmental health research needs with input from EPA offices, partners and stakeholders. Strategic Research Action Plans outline the research under way in the programs. The research is conducted by ORD’s three national laboratories, four national centers, and two offices located in 14 facilities across the country and in Washington, D.C.

Learn more about EPA research Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment CPHEA?s Mission: To provide the science needed to understand the complex interrelationship between people and nature in support of assessments and policy to protect human health and ecological integrity.

California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection (CALFIRE)

The men and women of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) are dedicated to the fire protection and stewardship of over 31 million acres of California's privately-owned wildlands. In addition, the Department provides varied emergency services in 36 of the State's 58 counties via contracts with local governments. Our mission is to serve and safeguard the people and protect the property and resources of California.

Preventing wildfires in the State Responsibility Area (SRA) is a vital part of CAL FIRE's mission. While these efforts have occurred since the early days of the Department, CAL FIRE has adapted to the evolving destructive wildfires and succeeded in significantly increasing its efforts in fire prevention. The Department's Fire Prevention Program consists of multiple activities including wildland pre-fire engineering, vegetation management, fire planning, education and law enforcement. Typical fire prevention projects include brush clearance, prescribed fire, defensible space inspections, emergency evacuation planning, fire prevention education, fire hazard severity mapping, and fire-related law enforcement activities.

CAL FIRE's mission emphasizes the management and protection of California's natural resources; a goal that is accomplished through ongoing assessment and study of the State's natural resources and an extensive CAL FIRE Resource Management Program. CAL FIRE oversees enforcement of California's forest practice regulations, which guide timber harvesting on private lands. Reviews and inspections ensure protection of watershed and wildlife, as well as renewal of timber resources. Department foresters and fire personnel work closely to encourage and implement fuels management projects to reduce the threat of uncontrolled wildfires. CAL FIRE Foresters promote conservation and the importance of our trees and forests to Californians of all ages.

CAL FIRE manages eight Demonstration State Forests that provide for commercial timber production, public recreation, and research and demonstration of good forest management practices. Additional forestry programs include urban forestry, archeology, pest management, etc.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) The Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch of the National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) leads CDC’s fight against environmental-related respiratory illnesses, including asthma, and studies indoor and outdoor air pollution.

CDC’s asthma program focuses on three main activities: 1. surveillance: collecting and analyzing data on an ongoing basis to understand when, where, and in whom asthma occurs; 2. implementing scientifically proven interventions: ensuring that scientific information is translated into public health practices and programs to reduce the burden of asthma; and 3. establishing and maintaining partnerships: ensuring that all stakeholders have the opportunity to be involved in developing, implementing, and evaluating local asthma control programs.

This same approach of research-based intervention conducted in partnership with international, national, and local partners is applied to CDC’s work in preventing carbon monoxide poisoning, studying the health effects of exposure to forest fire smoke, and investigating human health effects of poor air quality. CDC works with government and non-governmental agencies and organizations worldwide to conduct research and surveillance and to develop training materials, educational information, and innovative methods to address respiratory health problems associated with air pollution. Through these efforts CDC helps local and state governments and private agencies inform the public about the health effects of air pollution and provides people with accurate and useful information about steps they can take to protect their health.

National Park Service Since 1916, the National Park Service has been entrusted with the care of our national parks. With the help of volunteers and partners, we safeguard these special places and share their stories with more than 275 million visitors every year. But our work doesn't stop there. We are proud that tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and individual citizens ask for our help in revitalizing their communities, preserving local history, celebrating local heritage, and creating close to home opportunities for kids and families to get outside, be active, and have fun. Taking care of the national parks and helping Americans take care of their communities is a job we love, and we need—and welcome—your help and support. Our Mission: The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.

UC Davis Environmental Health Sciences Center (EHSC) The UC Davis Environmental Health Sciences Center (EHSC) is one of more than 20 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Core Centers in the United States. EHSC has experts across a range of disciplines. EHSC fosters interdisciplinary research to understand how environmental factors induce disease or disability and to translate this knowledge into solutions. It provides researchers with opportunities to share cutting-edge technical expertise and laboratories, and with mentoring for faculty at any level who are tackling difficult-to-solve problems in which health is being eroded by environmental exposures. A major goal is to train a new generation of environmental health scientists. The Central Valley, a focus of the EHSC, is home to some 4 million people who carry a disproportionate share of air pollution, contaminated water and pesticide applications, and have the least access to health care. More recently, EHSC’s research has expanded to urban areas in California affected by climate change-related wildfires.

Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (WCAHS) The Western Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (WCAHS) is one of 11 agricultural health and safety centers in the U.S established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Founded in 1990 and located at the University of California, Davis, WCAHS is a multidisciplinary center with a history of engaging agricultural communities in the Western states of Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada through innovative research and outreach. WCAHS faculty and staff conduct research on high hazard topics, including air quality, ergonomics, dairy pathogens, and heat illness. Through its robust outreach program, WCAHS reaches over 3,000 individuals annually with health and safety trainings, health fairs, and presentations. More recently, WCAHS collaborated with agricultural stakeholders in California to develop rapid response training materials to assist employers with meeting the requirements of the Cal/OSHA emergency wildfire smoke regulation.

2B Technologies 2B Technologies is dedicated to the development and commercialization of new analytical instruments for atmospheric and environmental measurements. We specialize in miniaturized instruments for measurements of ozone (O3), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), mercury (Hg), and other chemical species in air. Our small, lightweight, low-power instruments are now used for atmospheric measurements using balloons, kites, UAVs, research aircraft, and at many remote sites, including Antarctica, the Galapagos Islands, the Greenland ice sheet, the summit of Mont Blanc, the Amazon rain forest, on buoys in the Arctic Ocean, on commercial airliners, in many U.S. National Parks and at numerous other locations throughout the world.

FEDS Protection

FEDS Protection was founded, in part, as a result of the legal work its President performed in the Thirtymile, Cramer and Esperanza fire tragedies. Tony Vergnetti, esq. understands how stressful any situation regarding a fire tragedy can become and wants you to know that FEDS has your back.

FEDS Protection provides expertise, quality legal representation, and support to the federal wildland firefighting community which begins with education regarding your liability exposures. Testimonials by fellow wildland firefighters who have worked with FEDS Protection provide in-depth and personal accounts in the aftermath of a fire tragedy. For your protection, Federal law requires agencies to reimburse most firefighters up to 50% of the cost of this coverag

Get your FEDS Protection in place –it takes just 5 minutes. Call 866.955.FEDS(3337) or visit www.fedsprotection.com. Once enrolled, complete a Request for Reimbursement Form, FS 6500-229.

Forest Technology Systems (FTS)

Forest Technology Systems (FTS) is a leading manufacturer of remote environmental monitoring solutions including systems, instrumentation and communications technology for the Hydrology, Fire Weather and Meteorology industries. Our equipment forms the backbone of some of the world’s most sophisticated and demanding environment monitoring networks. Our mission is to make our customers successful in their efforts to monitor, record, and analyze changes in the natural environment.

NC State University & Southern Fire Exchange

Southern Fire Exchange works with partners throughout the region to connect fire managers and researchers, increase the use of available fire science, and facilitate discussions about the relevance of research results and future research needs. Representing 11 southern states, Southern Fire Exchange is funded by the Joint Fire Science Program and is a member of the Fire Science Exchange Network.