The IAWF is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s Awards. For more details on these award winners, also see this issue’s President’s Letter.
Ember Award for Excellence in Wildland Fire Science
- Dr. Kevin Tolhurst, AM, Associate Professor, Fire Ecology and Management, Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science, University of Melbourne
The purpose of the Ember Award for Excellence in Wildland Fire Science is to recognize sustained excellence in wildland fire research and to encourage innovation, exploration, application, and dissemination of important research results. The name “Ember” reflects the fact that research and science often move slowly, and their benefits or impacts may not be apparent for years. The award was established to recognize sustained and excellent research contributions to wildland fire science, innovative solutions to important wildland fire challenges, and effective and appropriate communication of wildland fire science and research results.
Dr. Kevin Tolhurst was presented with the Ember Award by IAWF Vice President Alen Slijepcevic at the 5th International Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference in Melbourne.
Excellence in Wildland Fire Management
- James Brenner, Fire Management Administrator, Florida Forest Service, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Jim was nominated by his peers in Florida who stated that he is one of the smartest, most innovative, and visionary people in this business. He has kept Florida fire management in the national forefront, providing a template for other states to follow.
The Excellence in Wildland Fire Management was established to honor achievements and excellence in the management of wildland fire programs. This award recognizes an individual who have made lasting contributions in program management and inspired others through their creativity, innovation, leadership, application, guidance, and communication in response to challenging and controversial wildland fire management issues.
James Brenner was presented with the Ember Award by IAWF President Tom Zimmerman at the 5th International Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference in Portland.
Early Career Award
- Dr. Guillermo Rein, Senior Lecturer, Imperial College London
Dr. Rein is a prominent fire behavior scientist, studying ignition, combustion emission, smoldering and interactions of fires and ecosystems. At this early stage of his career, his greatest contributions have been in the area of smoldering wildfires, where he has revolutionized the experimental and numerical description of these fires, translating science from engineering to applications such as fire history, emissions and climate change. This work has been published in over 67 journal papers, receiving more than 1700 citations throughout his short career. Among these, 17 journal papers and 6 keynote lectures have focused specifically on wildland fires.
Dr. Rein will be presented with his award at the 2nd International Smoke Symposium this November in Long Beach, Ca.
Posters Award at 5th International Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference
At the Portland location three students were presented awards for the best poster presentations. The presentations were judged on their quality as well as the knowledge, enthusiasm and engagement of the presenter during the poster session.
First Place was awarded to Michael Vernon, Humboldt State University for his poster presentation – Do Fuels Treatments Promote Drought Resistance in Lassen National Park?
Second place was awarded to Harold Zald, Oregon State University for his poster presentation – Understory Vegetation Changes with Different Seasons and Intervals of Prescribed Burning.
Third place was awarded to Paul Hood, University of Wyoming for this poster presentation – The Effect of Post-Mountain Pine Beetle Salvage Treatments on Fuel loads and Fuel Moisture in Colorado Lodgepole Pine Forest.
In Melbourne the Best Poster Award was presented to Jon Boura, Amalie Tibbits, Michael Hansby, Damien Taylor, Alice Gower from Terramatrix, Collingwood, VIC, Australia and Damien Taylor, Kate McKenzie and Simon Thorning from Mornington Peninsular Shire Council, Rosebud, VIC, Australia for their poster presentations – The Warringine Park Bushfire Case Study.
Congratulations to all of the receipts of the Best Poster Awards.
Conference Updates
Thank you to those who attended the 5th International Fire Behavior and Fuels Conference in Portland, Oregon and Melbourne Australia. The conference were an overwhelming success with nearly 700 attendees in both locations. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who was involved in the planning of the conferences.
Visit the conference webpage to view the video-taped Keynote and Panel Sessions. www.firebehaviorandfuelsconference.com.
Outstanding Student from S-590 Advanced Fire Behavior Interpretation
Arthur Gonzales was selected to recieve the IAWF Membership Award from among the cadre of students attending S-590 Advanced Fire Behavior Interpretation at the National Advance Fire and Resource Institute in Tucson, Ariz., this March. The IAWF established the Membership Award to recognize the key role that advanced fire training courses offer in developing leaders and professionals in the field.
Gonzales, beginning his 22nd fire season, is the Fire Staff Officer for the Kaibab National Forest, Region 3, US Forest Service. He was selected by the cadre of instructors for the Membership Award based on his demonstrated leadership and support of colleagues during the challenging course.
When asked about his fire career, Gonzales wrote this:
My career in Fire Management stems from a long history of enjoying the outdoors and all that is has to offer. My childhood memories of hunting, fishing, and camping trips created a passion that I carry forward today as I now take my family on similar trips. Throughout my career, I have been fortunate to have developed an understanding of how fire has shaped landscapes and how is has been critical in developing and providing the opportunities I so greatly enjoy. With this understanding of the role of fire in ecosystems, I have dedicated myself to a career in Fire Management, with a particular focus in using fire to maintain and enhance landscapes so that everyone can experience all the opportunities that our public lands have to offer, both now and in to the future. I look forward to continuing my role in leading the interdisciplinary approach the Kaibab and our partners have developed in order to continue to be a leader in the use of both wildfire and prescribed fire.
