By Michelle Pugle

What factors led to the recent fires in Jasper National Park — and how can we be better prepared for future fire seasons?

Wildfire expert Dr. Mike Flannigan was one of several experts invited to explore these pressing questions and discuss fire management strategies in Canada at the House of Commons Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development meeting in early October. Flannigan is the BC Innovation Research Chair in Predictive Services, Emergency Management and Fire Science at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and the scientific director at TRU’s Institute for Wildfire Science, Adaptation and Resiliency.

“Fire management is challenging, and it’s becoming more challenging due to the increase in extreme fire weather and fire behaviour,” he said.

Flannigan noted that wildfires and other potential disasters are multi-faceted issues — and that Canada needs multi-pronged solutions.

TRU is strongly positioned to help with some of these solutions. Through a partnership with the BC Wildfire Service, TRU has developed TRU Wildfire, which brings together research, education, training and innovation to improve society’s ability to prevent, prepare for and respond to wildfire. The Institute for Wildfire Science, Adaptation and Resiliency is a key driver of research and innovation for TRU Wildfire.

Also appearing at the House of Commons committee were: Christian Messier, a professor of forest ecology at the Université du Québec à Montréal, and Lori Daniels, Koerner Chair in Wildfire Coexistence at the University of British Columbia.

Watch the video. Flannigan’s presentation begins at 11:28:27.