Turning Down the Heat: Redefining the Wildfire Problem and Solutions

 Decision-makers are desperately seeking solutions to the wildfire crisis that’s driven by several concurrently rising trends including home development, climate change, and accumulated fuels. Increasing risks and inevitable wildfires demand that we fundamentally rethink how, where, and under what conditions we build homes in wildfire-prone areas. This presentation will redefine the wildfire problem as a home-ignition problem, then share tools and resources to better identify, explore, and communicate wildfire data to help communities adapt to increasing risks.

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Kimiko Barrett, Ph.D.

Kimiko Barrett is the lead wildfire research and policy analyst at Headwaters Economics, a non-partisan independent research organization based in Bozeman, Montana. She is also the Program Director for Community Planning Assistance for Wildfire (CPAW), working with communities across the country to better plan, mitigate, and adapt to wildfires. Kimi regularly engages with firefighters, land use and planning staff, government agency personnel, and elected officials to help reduce wildfire risk and increase community resiliency.

 Kimi is a committed agent of change in how we live with inevitable wildfires. Drawing on the expertise within the broad networks she has built, she has led research of national significance on topical issues such as the true cost of wildfires, the cost of building wildfire-resistant homes, and measuring wildfire impacts through structure loss. Her work has changed the national wildfire narrative and shaped new strategies for protecting communities from wildfire. Born and raised in Bozeman, Montana, Kimi now lives in nearby Livingston. As a researcher, she enjoys engaging with people on complex issues such as community resilience, adaptation, and vulnerability. Kimi has a Ph.D. in Forestry from University of Montana.