Colorado State University’s Warner College of Natural Resources to Host High Park Fire Symposium Sept. 10
The smoke of the High Park Fire has cleared, but many are still searching for information about the fire and sustainable solutions for recovery. In response to this need, Colorado State University’s Warner College of Natural Resources is presenting a free, one-day symposium to help provide a science-based understanding of the fire, its impacts and scientifically vetted solutions for recovery.
The one-day symposium, “High Park Fire: From Science to Action & Recovery,” will take place from 9 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 10 at the CSU Lory Student Center Theatre. The event is free and open to the public.
The symposium will feature a dynamic range of panelists including Warner College’s leading experts in fire science and post-fire ecology and restoration, High Park Fire front-line responders, homeowners directly affected by the fire, forest and fire management agencies, emergency services, community organizations and more.
Highlighted speakers include: High Park Fire Incident Commander Bill Hahnenberg; U.S. Forest Service Deputy Chief for State and Private Forestry James Hubbard; Director of the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute Tony Cheng; and, the High Park Fire Coalition.
Agenda Highlights
9 a.m. – Opening Remarks
9:45 – 11:45 a.m. – Perspectives on the High Park Fire
1 – 2 p.m. – High Park Fire Behavior and Fuel Treatment Effectiveness
2:25 – 4:25 p.m. – Expectations for Recovery
6:30 – 8 p.m. – High Park Fire Restoration, Action, and Recovery
“Wildfires, particularly wildland urban interface fires, are one of the most critical environmental issues facing Colorado and the nation,” said Warner College of Natural Resources Dean Joyce Berry. “The college is dedicated to helping create sustainable solutions to this environmental challenge through education, research, and collaboration.”
The symposium’s daytime agenda will focus on information and insights into what happened during the High Park Fire and its impacts on the landscape, watershed and community. The evening session will transition to restoration and recovery – providing examples of successful wildfire recovery efforts, and information from organizations that are mobilizing restoration efforts and recruiting volunteers in Northern Colorado.
The symposium also will feature an adjoining exhibit hall and academic poster session presenting information, resources and volunteer opportunities related to the High Park Fire. The exhibit hall will be open throughout the symposium at the CSU Lory Student Center North Ballroom.
“Working together with the best available science, we can target actions to speed High Park Fire ecological recovery and restoration,” said Berry. “The symposium will serve as an informative way to connect CSU and the Northern Colorado community with knowledge and resources to better understand and get involved with High Park Fire recovery.”
CSU’s Warner College of Natural Resources is one of the most comprehensive natural resource colleges in the nation and is home to an extensive network of natural resource degree programs, scientific research, community outreach, and collaboration initiatives. It has established a reputation as a leader in forest management and fire science and restoration, and is home to such organizations as the Colorado State Forest Service, Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, Western Forest Fire Research Institute, Natural Resource Ecology Lab, and Center for Collaborative Conservation.
For more information about the symposium and the full agenda, visit warnercnr.colostate.edu/HighParkFireSymposium.
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