This premier event convenes air quality specialists, fire professionals, health scientists, policymakers, and technology innovators to explore the complex challenges and emerging solutions surrounding wildland and agricultural smoke.
As a hybrid event, all presentations will be live-streamed and taped for later playback.
From Maryland (2013) to Long Beach (2016) to a fully virtual format in 2020, the International Smoke Symposium continues to evolve—uniting global voices and advancing the science and practice of smoke management. The 2026 symposium will be held in person at the new Leigh Perkins Conservation Education Center in Tallahassee, Florida.
What to Expect:
• Cutting-edge research on smoke tracking, modelling and health impacts.
• Strategies for field management, communication and response.
• Insights into social, ecological and economic implications.
• Training opportunities for operational professionals.
• A showcase of innovative tools and technologies.
Join for the 2026 International Smoke Symposium ISS4, Tallahassee, Florida, March 23-27, 2026. In person and online.
January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month in the United States. Follow in the footsteps of tens of thousands of US firefighters who are making an impact on firefighter health and safety. Join the NIOSH National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer.
All US firefighters can join the NFR for Cancer, whether you are paid or volunteer, active or retired, and even if you don’t have cancer. When you join, you will answer questions about your fire service history and help NIOSH fill an important gap in our knowledge about cancer in firefighters.
The more we know about cancer in the US fire service, the more we can do to prevent it.
Take 5 minutes to start your registration at NFR.CDC.gov.
Early registrations have now opened for the 8th International Fire Behaviour and Fuels conference in Hobart, Tasmania next year.
Following on from the success of the 2024 conference in three cities across three countries – Canberra/Australia, Tralee/Ireland and Boise/US – the 2026 conference will be held only in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 28 April to 1 May 2026.
After an overwhelming response to the Call for Presentations, conferences organisers are now sorting through the abstracts. The full program will be out early in the new year. It will include a three-day conference schedule of keynote speakers, panel sessions and topical presentations over four streams.
Here are the three keynote speakers:
Amanda McKenzie – CEO of the Climate Council
Prof David Bowman – Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow and Director of the Fire Centre at the University of Tasmania
Robb Clifton – Director Field and Traverse Operations at the Australian Antarctic Division
A fourth day offers the choice of four workshops and two field trips to get a deeper understanding of the application of the science to fire behaviour and fuels management.
Sponsorship and exhibition opportunities are now available at a range of levels.
Mark your calendars for this important event and stay tuned for more details.
There is still time to be a speaker, workshop or special session host, in Florida at the 2026 International Smoke Symposium.
The end of the US Government shutdown has now allowed many people to return to work and consider their submissions so the deadline has been extended to Wednesday November 26, 2025.
We are open to proposals for talks, workshops or other special sessions that meet the needs of global experts and practitioners at the forefront of wildland fire and smoke science.
This premier event convenes air quality specialists, fire professionals, health scientists, policymakers, and technology innovators to explore the complex challenges and emerging solutions surrounding wildland and agricultural smoke.
As a hybrid event, all presentations will be live-streamed and taped for later playback.
From Maryland (2013) to Long Beach (2016) to a fully virtual format in 2020, the International Smoke Symposium continues to evolve—uniting global voices and advancing the science and practice of smoke management. The 2026 symposium will be held in person at the new Leigh Perkins Conservation Education Center in Tallahassee, Florida.
What to Expect:
• Cutting-edge research on smoke tracking, modelling and health impacts.
• Strategies for field management, communication and response.
• Insights into social, ecological and economic implications.
• Training opportunities for operational professionals.
• A showcase of innovative tools and technologies.
Join for the 2026 International Smoke Symposium ISS4, Tallahassee, Florida, March 23-27, 2026. In person and online.The deadlines for submission of proposals for Presentations and for Special Sessions closes on November 26, 2025
Taking inspiration from the Iron Dome air defense system that intercepts, targets and destroys incoming rockets to Israel, the newly developed FireDome aims to protect communities from wildfire attack by detecting, targeting and suppressing spot fires before they grow big.
FireDome recently demonstrated its system that features a large AI powered mechanical launcher that rapidly rotates, swivels and adjusts to release retardant or water capsules to suppress fire or create a firebreak.
The launcher has a range of 1000 ft (300m) but FireDome is working on extending that range. The launcher can hold 3000 capsules, each with a capacity of 10 gallons (37 litres), and can reload and fire every 5 seconds.
The AI can detect the intrusion of people, animals, cars or aircraft, and can actively monitor a moving fire front. The company says that tests under more challenging conditions are ongoing, including under varied wind conditions which have the potential to blow any capsule off course.
So, how much does this cost to set it up in your community? The company told Wildfire Today: “Low six figures per year for an end to end service we provide that includes the system and additional fire mitigation tools.”
Advisor to FireDome and former U.S. Fire Administrator, Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, is quoted on the company website. “FireDome exemplifies the type of breakthrough innovation needed to alter our relationship with wildfire risk,” she said.
“The integration of automated systems with precision suppression technology creates an opportunity for technology to be considered as a variable in risk-based insurance models and in community resilience strategic plans.”
FireDome plans to begin US installations in 2026, partnering with property owners, vineyards, HOAs, resorts, utilities, insurers and the fire service in wildfire-prone regions. Beyond that it is looking to Canada, Europe and Australia as potential markets.
Australia’s fire preparedness just got smarter, more colourful and easier to access.
A new satellite-derived product from Geoscience Australia helps monitor fuel moisture (vegetation dryness) across Australia in near real time. The tool uses Earth observation to provide a clear visual assessment of vegetation flammability.
Developed in partnership with The Australian National University’s Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence, the Digital Earth Australia Fuel Moisture Content assesses fire risk, by estimating the percentage of water mass relative to dry mass in living vegetation based on its spectral signature.
Vegetation moisture changes in the south-west of Western Australia between August 2024 (left) and November 2024 (right). Digital Earth Australia Fuel Moisture Content.
Australia’s hot, dry climate and expansive bushland make understanding vegetation dryness critical for managing bushfire risk.
The DEA Fuel Moisture Content product enables fire and land managers to monitor and map the dryness of vegetation across different landscapes and compare over different time periods to understand changes and trends over time.
The data is delivered as imagery with a 20 by 20 m pixel size and is freely available via DEA Maps and DEA Knowledge Hub.
Updated every few days, at 20-metre resolution, it shows where the landscape is ready to burn before fires start.
The tool was launched with the claim that this is the first time fire agencies, land managers and Indigenous fire practitioners can see precisely where the landscape is ready at this level of detail for the whole continent.
The director of the ANU Bushfire Research Centre of Excellence Professor Marta Yebra began the early work on this tool for her PhD in Spain and built it up into the Digital Earth Australia product of today.
“It’s a glimpse into the future of bushfire management, where satellites and other technologies act like a nervous system for the continent, constantly sensing and responding to changes in the landscape long before smoke fills the sky.” explains Prof Marta Yebra.
Aerial wildfire response has taken a leap forward with the showcasing of new drone technology that aims to hit fires early and fast.
Fresh from its recent launch seeded by $60 million in capital raising, Seneca demonstrated its wildfire suppression drones at the Red Sky Summit in San Francisco this week, with plans to expand its reach beyond the US if successful.
Seneca is building an autonomous fire suppression system that includes autonomous suppression drones that carry 100 lbs, shoot with 100 PSI, and use AI to navigate and knock down fires, with the aim of cutting response times to under 10 minutes.
Seneca wildfire suppression drones
The aerial systems can be launched remotely, needing only an approximate fire location, with the intention striking before a small fire-start becomes a large wildfire. It also has the potential to support prescribed burns and fuel reduction efforts.
The California-based company’s mission is stated variously on its website “to protect…” or “to eliminate” the wildfire threat across 500 million acres in the US and “allied nations” by 2035.
Wildfire Today sought to clarify the concept of an “allied nation” and was informed by Seneca that it sought to serve nations and communities that shared common values. “We expect the western US to host our first deployment sites, and we are grateful to have active dialogue with partners in Canada, Chile and Australia. We do expect to go to international markets in the coming years.”
Seneca wildfire suppression drones
Stuart Landesberg, founder and CEO of Seneca, believes that technology is central to that mission. “Our hope is to empower firefighters in situations that were previously impossible, unsafe, or inefficient. The American way of life has always been about pioneering. Technology is how we will protect communities, preserve our environment, and create a more resilient civilization.”
But the technology focus is not without the human touch, according to Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, the former US Fire Administrator, and now one of many advisors working with Seneca.
“These AI-powered drones don’t replace our brave men and women on the front lines; they amplify their capabilities while keeping them out of harm’s way. When a drone can deliver rapid water or retardant deployment without risking human life, we’re talking about a paradigm shift that will save both firefighter and civilian lives,” according to a Moore-Merrell statement on the company website.
Senaca’s mission is backed with $60 million led by Caffeinated Capital and Convective Capital with participation from First Round Capital, Transition DCVC, Offline Ventures, and others.
The company says it will use this funding to improve capabilities, harden the overall system, increase production, and roll out the first systems in the field during the 2026 US fire season.
“We have flown test, demonstration, and fuel reduction missions with dozens of fire agencies across CA and in four states. We have never operated internationally but expect to go to international markets in the coming years,” the company told Wildfire Today.
The Earth Fire Alliance has hired NASA’s Wildland Fire Program Manager Dr Michael Falkowski to be its first Lead Scientist.
Earth Fire Alliance is a global nonprofit coalition intent on delivering transformative data and insights from all wildfires around the world.
Dr Falkowski was NASA’s Program Manager for the Wildland Fire Program and led the FireSense project, overseeing an annual budget of around $20 million. In that role, he set strategic priorities for NASA’s wildland fire portfolio, led multidisciplinary teams, and spearheaded national and interagency efforts to advance fire science, data, and technology innovation.
As the alliance’s first Lead Scientist, Dr Falkowski will guide the ambitious research to operations strategy to address wildfire challenges on a global scale.
“I’m honored to join Earth Fire Alliance and contribute to its mission of transforming how the world understands and responds to wildfire,” said Dr Falkowski in a statement from the alliance.
“This is a unique opportunity to unite international science, space-based technology, and real-world operations to build wildfire resilience at the scale this accelerating global challenge demands.”
Dr Michael Falkowski leaves NASA to lead the Earth, Fire Alliance.
At NASA, Dr. Falkowski facilitated the development of wildland fire science and technology to drive actionable outcomes for fire management and resilience.
Before his time at NASA, Dr Falkowski worked in remote sensing and ecosystem science as a professor at Colorado State University, University of Minnesota, and Michigan Technological University. He also served as a wildland firefighter and state and tribal natural resource management specialist,
EFA Executive Director Brian Collins, in the alliance statement, said Dr Falkowski had a blend of scientific rigor and operational experience. “He brings a deep understanding of how to translate research into real-world impact—an essential quality as we scale the FireSat program, expand global partnerships, and deploy new programs.”
Through its FireSat program – a purpose-built satellite constellation designed to detect and monitor every wildfire on Earth in near real time – it aims to deliver unprecedented insights into wildfire behavior and impacts.
Four of our 2025 annual IAWF Award winners are in Calgary this week (October 20-23, 2025) at #wildfiresummit25 to be recognised for their fine achievements in safety, training, support, learning and knowledge.
IAWF President Trevor Howard and IAWF Director Amy Christiansen presented the awards. (pictured left to right)
Nico Semsch is the recipient of the 2025 Early Career Award in Fire Operations – for an early career professional with outstanding abilities. Nico is an inspirational wildfire instructor in Germany.
Dr Stephen Pyne is the recipient of the 2025 Ember Award for Excellence in Wildland Fire Science. Stephen, the author of 31 books on wildfire is perhaps the most prominent chronicler of wildfire histories on many continents.
Juliane Baumann is the recipient of the 2025 Firebreak Award for Excellence in Fire Management. Juliane is working to reduce the wildfire risk in Germany with local communities.
Steve Lemon is the recipient of the 2025 Wildland Fire Safety Award. Steve has fostered safety programs in the British Columbia Fire Service that not only prevent injury but foster a broader culture of well-being.
