Wildfire Policy Committee
The purpose of the WFCA Wildfire Policy Committee (WPC) is to provide leadership to the western states in wildland fire management planning, mitigation, recovery, technology, and sustainability. WFCA is a lead collaborator and takes an aggressive role in representing local fire services when addressing wildland fire planning and policy issues.
WFCA’s WPC is in alignment with the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and supports the vision statement from the United States National Wildland Fire Cohesive Strategy and adopted a vision for this century that serves the international community:
“To safely and effectively extinguish fire when needed; use fire where allowable; manage our natural resources; and as an international community, to live with wildland fire.”
Please send any questions for the committee to: [email protected].
Our Committee Members
The WPC is designed to take national wildfire policy initiatives and disseminate details to its respective State Fire Chief Associations to build action at the local level. The WPC also provides two-way direct input up the ladder to best represent local government fire services.
Josh Waldo - Chair
Fire Chief, Bozeman Fire Department
Kim Zagaris
Wildfire Policy & Technology Advisor, WFCA
Bob Roper
Wildfire Policy & Procedure Advisor, WFCA
Robert Horton
Senior Director of Research & Policy, WFCA
Rich Cowger - Montana
Fire Chief, Columbus Fire
Bradford Ventura - Hawaii
Fire Chief, County of Maui
Rich Harvey - Nevada
Fire Chief, Central Lyon County Fire
Brian Fennessy - California
Fire Chief, Orange County Fire Authority
Jayson Coil - Arizona
Assistant Chief, Sedona Fire District
Riley Pilgrim - Utah
Assistant Chief, Unified Fire Authority
Mike Maltaverne - Idaho
Fire Chief, Teton County Fire Rescue
Michael Keenan - Alaska
Fire Chief, Central Mat-Su Fire Department
Christine Fejeran - WPI
Forestry Division Chief, Guam Department of Agriculture
Mariana Ruiz-Temple - Oregon
Oregon State Fire Marshal
Leonard Johnson - Washington
Fire Chief, McLane Fire
Bob Gear - Washington (Alt.)
Fire Chief, City of Pasco
Firework Safety Tips: How to Stay Safe
How AI is Aiding in Wildfire Prediction and Prevention
How to Create a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)
Wildfire Awareness Month: Guide on How to Prepare
Are Wildfires Increasing or Decreasing in the U.S.?
Is Fire Living or Non-Living?
