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.

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.

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.

In the wake of the Eaton and Palisades Fires, researchers and policymakers are pursuing new policy pathways to mitigate the public health impacts of wildfire. This panel brings together statewide experts to explore the immediate health impacts of the recent LA fires, how new research is improving our understanding of these impacts, how recent legislation aims to address these concerns, and what additional insights are needed to shape state and local policies that better protect communities from the public health impacts of catastrophic fire. Featured speakers included Miriam Marlier, Assistant Professor of Global Environmental Change, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and Elizabeth Scheehle, Research Division Chief, California Air Resources Board.

CWI's 2025 Convening: Wildfire Data Workshop united 70+ experts from across the insurance, public health and smoke, and urban planning and policy sectors to inform broader conversations around the use and application of wildfire data.

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.

CWI’s 2024 Signature Convening – “Wildfire Data & Technology: Reducing Barriers and Building Resilience” – examines the intersections of wildfire data and technology, policy, and practice, bringing together a select group of 60+ fire experts, regional partners, industry leaders, and on-the-ground practitioners to share insights and recommendations on how to accelerate solutions to this era’s most pressing climate and wildfire challenges.

From software to satellites, this session will address 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.

As part of California’s Wildfire Preparedness Week, CWI will be hosting a film screening and panel discussion from 1-3:30pm on May 5th, 2024 at the prestigious Sofia/B Street Theatre in Sacramento. The featured film, "The Human Element," crafted by renowned environmental photographer James Balog, offers a compelling exploration of the complex relationship between humanity and the natural world, including the consequential impacts of wildfires on our communities and environment.

CWI’s 2023 Signature Convening brings together experts from across research, policy, and practice for a deep dive on prescribed fire and cultural burning to identify gaps and actionable solutions, foster critical networking opportunities, and inform CWI’s agenda for the coming year.

Author, retired wildland firefighter and University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program graduate, Clare Frank, will read from her book, “Burnt: A Memoir of Fighting Fire” at the University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe Prim Library this Saturday, June 10, at 1 p.m.