A wildfire research institution at Thompson Rivers University (TRU) is one step closer to reality following endorsement by the university’s senate on Monday.
If the institute is established, it would spearedhead studies and innovations aimed at preventing, mitigating and response to and recovering from wildfires, says a release from TRU.
“The wildfire institute focuses on developing new knowledge while respecting and learning from Indigenous land stewardship and management practices,” says the university.
“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.”
The release says this type of institution is the next logical step for the university, which is already home to BC's first fire science research chair, a Canada Research Chair in Fire Ecology and an NSERC Industrial Chair in Ecosystem Reclamation.
Both of TRU’s campuses in Kamloops and Williams Lake are also the hub of wildfire response activities during the summers, the release adds.
The proposed institute will now go to the next stage of consideration, which will see final approval considered by the Board of Governors at a future meeting.
