CWI Webinars

The Climate & Wildfire Institute (CWI) hosts engaging webinars that weave together insights from the researchers, policymakers, and practitioners who are tackling this era’s most pressing climate and wildfire challenges. Our webinars are designed to spark dialogue, share solutions, and bridge knowledge gaps to advance wildfire resilience across the U.S. 

CWI webinars are by registration only and open to the public. All webinars are recorded and links to each recording are published to YouTube upon conclusion of each webinar. 

Explore our webinars.

PRESCRIBED FIRE IN WINEGROWER COUNTRY: HOW MUCH SMOKE IS TOO MUCH?

NOV 5, 2025 | 10 AM PT

Prescribed fire plays a vital role in protecting California vineyards from the growing risk of wildfires. Still, vintners know firsthand the concerns that smoke can raise during sensitive periods of grape development. On November 5th, CAL FIRE, in partnership with CWI and regional experts, invites California winegrowers, fire practitioners, agencies, and anyone interested in smoke issues around the vintner community to join a special webinar focused on smoke awareness and communication. Together, we’ll share the latest information on prescribed fire practices, notification processes, and smoke management tools, while highlighting how local fire agencies and FireWise communities are working to strengthen coordination with the wine industry.

This interactive session will give California vintners the opportunity to hear directly from fire practitioners, learn strategies to minimize smoke impacts, and build connections with the people shaping prescribed fire efforts in the region. The conversation will also help set the stage for a larger in-person convening in spring 2026, where winegrowers and fire leaders will continue to work together on solutions that support both vineyard health and regional resilience.

Register here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Hl-IHs1pSgiC5zhoQB0Rzg#/registration.

INSURING RESILIENCE: PATHWAYS THROUGH CALIFORNIA'S WILDFIRE INSURANCE CRISIS

OCT 8, 2025 | 11 AM PT

California’s escalating wildfire risks have created a crisis in the insurance market, leaving homeowners, communities, and policymakers searching for viable solutions. In March 2025, the Climate & Wildfire Institute’s Wildfire Data Workshop highlighted the urgent need for innovation at the intersection of insurance, risk modeling, and wildfire resilience. Among the key action items was a call to continue convening leaders across sectors to identify pathways that align market stability with community wildfire mitigations that prioritize safety, access, and parcel resilience.

This webinar will serve as a strategic follow-up to that workshop, bringing together leaders at the forefront of insurance innovation, including brokers, risk specialists, community fire organizations, and policy advocates. Together, we will explore emerging models, lessons from on-the-ground initiatives, and collaborative opportunities to address the wildfire insurance crisis. This session will revisit the challenges and solutions surfaced during CWI’s 2026 workshop to test our assumptions and refine strategies for the path ahead.

PRACTITIONER PATHWAYS FOR FAST-TRACKING FOREST MANAGEMENT PROJECTS IN CA: A CONVERSATION ABOUT WILDFIRE RISK MITIGATION PROJECT STREAMLINING OPTIONS UNDER GOVERNOR NEWSOM'S RECENT EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION

JUN 26, 2025 | 2 PM PT

In March 2025, Governor Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency to fast-track critical forest management projects. The Emergency Proclamation features pathways to suspend environmental regulations for specific wildfire risk mitigation projects such as beneficial fire, hazardous fuels reduction, and other efforts to reduce fire risk. This includes a process for land managers and fire practitioners to request suspension of state requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and Coastal Act. The Emergency Proclamation also includes provisions to increase the California Vegetation Treatment Program’s (CalVTP) efficiency for more rapid environmental review of large wildfire risk reduction treatments. In short, the state now offers a range of pathways to expedite permitting and environmental review through suspension of CEQA and the Coastal Act, CalVTP’s expedited review process, and other avenues available to practitioners.

The best pathway for practitioners, meanwhile, may vary depending on the type of activity, location, budget, timeline, and size, among other factors. Deciding on the right fit for your project may prove administratively challenging given the variety of choices, each with their own distinct features and relative advantages. This webinar is designed as a primer for practitioners navigating these regulatory pathways. Join

us to learn directly from experts about available fast-tracking options and

appropriate planning resources to make informed decisions about how to move forward with your projects.

ALGORITHMS IN ACTION: TRANSFORMING WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT WITH AI & ML

JAN 22, 2025 | 10 AM PT

Traditional fire simulation and modeling tools can be limited by their accuracy, simplicity, and difficulty to scale, among other challenges. Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are transforming these tools, enabling researchers to better understand, predict, and respond to wildfires. Join us on Wednesday, January 22nd at 10 AM PT for a panel discussion alongside Dr. Qing Wang, Software Engineer, Google Research, Dr. Jazlynn Hall, Research Associate, Forest Futures Lab, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, and Dr. Hussam Mahmoud, George T. Abell Professor in Infrastructure, Civil Engineering, Colorado State University. 

FROM SOFTWARE TO SATELLITES: HARNESSING BIG DATA FOR WILDFIRE RESILIENCE

AUG 28, 2024 | 10 AM PT

From software to satellites, this session addresses how we can harness the power of big data to optimize wildfire management and response, while also responsibly sharing and maintaining equitable access to information. Featured speakers include Dr. Cathy Olkin, Vice President, Infrared Missions and Data at Muon Space and Dr. Mike Koontz, Lead Scientist, Ecological Modeling & Climate Change at Vibrant Planet.

Project Lead: Sarah Caldwell, Deputy Director of Collaborative Programs, Climate & Wildfire Institute