The University of Wyoming Extension announced on April 16 that it will host a free six-part webinar series beginning Thursday, April 30, focused on preparing for, responding to, and recovering from wildfires.
The weekly webinars are intended to help residents understand wildfire risks and improve their ability to respond before, during, and after such events. The sessions will address topics including reducing household fire hazards, community-level preparedness, impacts on livestock and wildlife habitat, and public health considerations.
Each session is scheduled for Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., with an hourlong presentation followed by a thirty-minute question-and-answer period. Organizers say the presentations will feature case studies from Wyoming communities along with general advice for managing risk and staying safe during wildfires.
“Wildfire can be really scary — there’s a lot of unknowns,” said Peyton Loss, University of Wyoming Extension educator who co-organized the series with fellow extension educator Mallery Larson. “We’re hoping that, by giving people more information on the front end, they feel a little more empowered about where to go and what to do,” Loss added. “We hope people take away some new tools or community connections that help them feel more prepared.”
Topics covered in the series include integrated fuels management within the Wind River and Big Horn Basin (April 30), collaborative community-level planning for wildfire risk management (May 7), impacts of wildfire smoke on livestock (May 14), best practices for reducing risk at home (May 21), a case study of Sheridan County’s Elk Fire response (May 28), and positive as well as negative impacts of wildland fire on wildlife habitat (June 4).
Those interested in participating can find speaker details and register at https://wyoextension.org/wrir/wildfire-webinar/. Additional questions can be directed via email to Peyton Loss or Mallery Larson.
Since its founding in 1914, University of Wyoming Extension has provided educational programs across all counties in the state as well as the Wind River Indian Reservation. Its work includes supporting agricultural production, food safety education, youth development through programs like 4-H, nutrition courses, business support services and other resources aligned with its land-grant mission.
