Wildfire is complex. But how we communicate the science of wildfires, wildfire preparedness, response and recovery doesn’t have to be. The Center for Science Communication Research is looking at wildfire and the public’s connection to it through media and science communication. Moderated by SCR Associate Director Mark Blaine and SCR Founding Researcher Dr. Hollie Smith, the podcast brings together wildfire experts from diverse backgrounds to discuss the science of communication during a fire event, fire preparedness techniques, the complexities of wildfire response, and how communities and the landscape recover after a fire. The series, which aims to provide established and emerging communication professionals and the public with a more nuanced understanding of wildfire’s multiple dimensions through the lens of recent wildland fires in Oregon, is possible due to the generous support of our partners and funders:

• The Julie and Rocky Dixon Investigative Reporting Fund administered by SCR through the UO School of Journalism and Communication.
• TheWayne Morse Center for Law and Politics encourages civic engagement and inspires enlightened dialogue by bringing students, scholars, activists, policymakers, and communities together to discuss issues affecting Oregon, our nation, and the world.
• The Northwest Fire Science Consortium is a regional fire science delivery system for disseminating knowledge and tools; a framework for coordinating fire science delivery; and a venue for increasing researcher understanding of the needs of managers & practitioners.
• The Institute for a Sustainable Environment is a center for innovative, interdisciplinary research at the nexus of ecological, economic, and social sustainability.

Episodes

Episode 0: Introducing the Fire Story 2020

Facilitators: Hollie Smith and Mark Blaine Release date: Tuesday, November 10, 2020 This introduction to the series describes the complex system of wildland fire in the western United States and examines the media’s role in public understanding of this issue as well as how science communication research can contribute to improved connections among researchers, policymakers, and the public.

Episode 1: 2020 Fire Season: Media lessons learned and what we need to know

Facilitators: Hollie Smith and Mark Blaine Experts: Carrie Berger, OSU Extension; Kelli Matthews, UO SOJC PR faculty; Jes Burns, OPB Release date: Tuesday, November 10, 2020

The availability of information before and during a fire event—where people should go for information and who they should trust—was top of mind for many during the recent record-breaking fires in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. We’ll explore the information landscape of the recent fire events and consider its implications.

Episode 2: Living with Smoke / How to Plan and Respond

Facilitators: Hollie Smith and Mark Blaine Experts: Ben Clark, UO PPPM; Dylan Darling, ODEQ Release date: Tuesday, November 17, 2020

The damage caused by recent wildfires in Oregon was extensive, but the impacts were felt much more broadly as a blanket of hazardous smoke forced residents inside for two weeks in early September. Combined with the hazards of COVID-19, it was a double air-quality threat. How does smoke affect the management of the fire problem in general, and what is the public’s sense of risk related to smoke events?

Episode 3: How did we get here? Fire Mitigation Policy and Techniques

Facilitators: Hollie Smith and Mark Blaine Experts: Amanda Rau, OSU College of Forestry; Dylan Kruse, Sustainable Northwest Release date: Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Wildland fire is a complex issue for many reasons, but a big one is the need for coordination between jurisdictions around a wide range of land ownership needs and mandates. Public safety, economic investment, and ecological concerns often compete for resources when fires burn, leading to a system may not be as flexible as it needs to be to address the scope of the problem.

Episode 4: Fire Response / The Logistical Side 

Facilitators: Hollie Smith and Mark Blaine Experts: Daniel Leavell, OSU College of Forestry; Marco Antonio Rocha Ibarra, OSU College of Forestry Release date: Thursday, January 21, 2021

Wildland fire is both destructive and regenerative. As the climate continues to change, experts say that we’ll have to learn to live with it and be flexible in the face of this new reality. What are the impacts of a fire on the economy, ecology, identity, and personal property of a landscape where fire has burned? How can media and communication help to reconnect people to disrupted communities and begin to put things back together?

Episode 5: Rangeland Fires

Facilitators: Hollie Smith and Mark Blaine Experts: Emily Jane Davis, OSU; Tom Sharp, Sharp Ranches; Katherine (Katie) Wollstein, OSU Release date: Friday, April 16th, 2021

Rangeland fires on the Eastern side of Oregon require different considerations than those that might burn in more densely populated cities. Rangelands are home to ranching communities, hundreds of species of wildlife, and provide cultural and social value to citizens in the American West. The size and nature of rangeland can make management decisions complex and rural communities play a key role in planning for, mitigating, and responding to wildfires. This episode explores issues of collaborative management, agricultural economies, and community partnerships.