Image Credit: B.C. Wildfire Service/File Photo

By Aaron Schulze

Fire Institute

Potential wildfire research institute at TRU enters final consideration stage

Oct 24, 2023 | 10:21 AM

KAMLOOPS — A research institute at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) that focuses on wildfires is coming closer to fruition.

In a news release issued Tuesday (Oct. 24) morning, TRU announced its senate endorsed an Institute for Wildfire Science, Adaptation and Resiliency during its Oct. 23 meeting.

If established, TRU says the wildfire institute would spearhead studies and innovations aimed at preventing, mitigating, responding to and recovering from wildfires.

“The wildfire institute focuses on developing new knowledge while respecting and learning from Indigenous land stewardship and management practices,” TRU states. “By channeling resources into research and innovation, the institute aims to provide essential tools for future policy decisions to reduce adverse outcomes for communities, including the impacts of smoke, evacuations and the loss of natural and built infrastructure.”

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Currently, TRU is home to B.C.’s first fire science research chair as funded by the province, a Canada Research Chair in Fire Ecology and an Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Industrial Chair in Ecosystem Reclamation.

Additionally, TRU’s campuses are located in Kamloops and Williams Lake, the home of the BC Wildfire Service’s offices for the Cariboo and Kamloops Fire Centres.

TRU’s potential wildfire institute now moves into a final consideration stage by its Board of Governors at a future meeting.