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U.S. Fire Administrator to Travel to Boise, Colorado Springs, Sacramento during Earth Week to highlight America’s Wildfire Challenges, Announce Full Report on Fire Prevention and Control

Posted: April 14, 2023

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WASHINGTON — The head of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and principals of America's national fire service organizations will travel to Boise, Idaho; Colorado Springs, Colorado; and Sacramento, California; to highlight America's wildfire challenges and announce the release of the full report on Fire Prevention and Control.

“Wildfires devastate our communities and can disrupt critical infrastructure including transportation, communications, power, gas, water supply and military installations. These disasters, and the ongoing threat of structure fires, are a challenge to our security. They result in the loss of homes, businesses, crops, animals and human lives, and can deteriorate air quality hundreds of miles away,” said DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “I am proud to work alongside the U.S. Fire Administration as they lead our nation's fire services to prevent, respond, mitigate and recover from the devastating effects of wildfires. These first responders are heroes and we must continue to support their efforts.”

During the visits, U.S. Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell will participate in press conferences to acknowledge America's fire problem, share steps to reduce the risk of fire in local communities and talk about the Administration's whole-of-government strategy to respond to wildfires.

“Drought, extreme heat and relative low humidity in many parts of the nation contribute to prime conditions for ignition and fire spread. There is a global increase in extreme fires even in areas previously unaffected,” said Dr. Moore-Merrell. “The U.S. government and the nation's firefighters can't fight this alone. We need individual homeowners and residents to take actions to keep their homes fire safe so that you have every chance to escape injury or death when a fire occurs. In communities built near forested areas or in previously forested areas, to minimize the chance of home ignitions, fuels around the home can be removed, reduced or relocated,” she continued. “Homes can also be hardened to prevent ignition from airborne embers by taking action to use ignition resistant roof coverings, vents, windows and fences. Fire is everyone's fight.”

FEMA recently announced the largest investment in its Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, boosted by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This funding helps communities increase resilience to wildfires, heat waves, drought, floods, hurricanes and other hazards by preparing before disaster strikes.

“As we head into the warmer months, communities must be prepared for wildfires that are only being exasperated by the impacts of climate change,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “Our mission to build resilience in these communities is even more critical as the wildland urban interface continues to expand. That is why FEMA and USFA remain focused on engaging our partners across government and leading a whole-of-community effort to address these complex problems.”

In Sacramento, Dr. Moore-Merrell will also be highlighting a prize competition to be announced by a non-profit organization to drive wildfire detection and extinguishment technologies.

Dr. Moore-Merrell will be available for interviews before and immediately following the events below.

U.S. Fire Administrator travels to Boise to highlight America's climate driven wildfire challenges, announce full report on fire prevention and control

WHEN: 10 a.m. Mountain Time; Tuesday, April 18, 2023

WHO:

  • Meagan Conry, Deputy Assistant Director, BLM Fire and Aviation
  • Brad Richy, Director, Idaho Office of Emergency Management
  • Lauren McLean, Mayor of Boise
  • Chief Mark Niemeyer, Boise Fire Department
  • Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator
  • Dr. Steve Kerber, Vice President, Fire Safety Research Institute
  • Chief Donna Black, President, International Association of Fire Chiefs
  • Michele Steinberg, Director of Wildfire for the National Fire Protection Association
  • Shane Ray, President, National Fire Sprinkler Association
  • Edward Kelly, General President, International Association of Fire Fighters
  • Kevin Quinn First Vice Chair, National Volunteer Fire Council
  • Ernie Mitchell, Former U.S. Fire Administrator and Fire Chief Retired, Board of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

WHERE: National Interagency Fire Center, 3833 Development Ave., Boise, Idaho 83705

RSVP: Please RSVP to the FEMA News Desk fema-news-desk@fema.dhs.gov no later than 4 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday, April 17. Please also include if you are interested in one-on-one interviews. Attendees must provide a valid government issued ID at the security gate upon arrival.

U.S. Fire Administrator travels to Colorado Springs to highlight America's wildfire problem, announce full report on fire prevention and control

WHEN: 10 a.m. Mountain Time; Wednesday, April 19, 2023

WHO:

  • Mike Morgan, Director, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control
  • John Suthers, Mayor, Colorado Springs
  • Chief Randy Royal, Colorado Springs
  • Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator
  • Dr. Steve Kerber, Vice President, Fire Safety Research Institute
  • Chief Donna Black, President, International Association of Fire Chiefs
  • Michele Steinberg, Director of Wildfire for the National Fire Protection Association
  • Shane Ray, President, National Fire Sprinkler Association
  • Edward Kelly, General President, International Association of Fire Fighters
  • Kevin Quinn First Vice Chair, National Volunteer Fire Council
  • Ernie Mitchell, Former U.S. Fire Administrator and Fire Chief Retired, Board of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

WHERE: Meet at The Guard House: 2250 Black Canyon Rd., Colorado Springs, CO 80904. You will be escorted to 3660 Twisted Oak Circle, Colorado Springs, CO 80904.

Please RSVP to the FEMA News Desk fema-news-desk@fema.dhs.gov no later than 4 p.m. Mountain Time, Monday, April 17, 2023. Please also include if you are interested in one-on-one interviews. Attendees must provide a valid government issued ID at the security gate upon arrival.

U.S. Fire Administrator to hold press conference in Sacramento, California to highlight America's wildfire problem, announce wildfire technology prize competition

WHEN: 10 a.m. Pacific Time; Thursday, April 20, 2023

WHO:

  • Chief Dan Haverty, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District
  • Chief Brian Marshall, California OES Fire and Rescue
  • Chief Joe Tyler, Director of CALFIRE
  • Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator
  • Dr. Steve Kerber, Vice President, Fire Safety Research Institute
  • Chief Donna Black, President, International Association of Fire Chiefs
  • Ray Bizal, Director of Field Operations for the National Fire Protection Association
  • Shane Ray, President, National Fire Sprinkler Association
  • Edward Kelly, General President, International Association of Fire Fighters
  • Kevin Quinn, Staffing, Fire Service Apprenticeship Programs First Vice Chair, National Volunteer Fire Council
  • Ernie Mitchell, Former U.S. Fire Administrator and Fire Chief Retired, board of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
  • Peter Houlihan, Executive Vice President, Biodiversity & Conservation at XPRIZE

WHERE: Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District Firehouse 68, 12065 Cobble Brook Dr, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742

RSVP: Please RSVP to the FEMA News Desk fema-news-desk@fema.dhs.gov no later than 4 p.m. Pacific Time, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Please also include if you are interested in any one-on-one interviews.

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