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A wildfire has triggered a state of local emergency in the District of Squamish, north of Vancouver. It is one of 89 wildfires currently active across the province, according to the BC Wildfire Service (as of June 9).

Experts from ´óÏó´«Ã½ are available to comment on various aspects of wildfires, such as: wildfire behaviour; the links between extreme weather and climate change; the impact of wildfires on rural communities; the health consequences of wildfire smoke; and wildfire response strategies.

Available ´óÏó´«Ã½ Experts

SOPHIE WILKINSON, assistant professor, Resource and Environmental Management, founder of the Fire and Ecosystems Research Group (limited connectivity between 18-31 May) 
sophie.wilkinson@sfu.ca 
Expertise: wildfire behaviour, impacts and the conditions that fuel them, including the importance and management of peatlands (bogs, fens and swamps). Co-author of a study published by the  in January.  

JOHN CLAGUE, professor emeritus, Earth sciences, CRC Chair in Natural Hazard Science 
jclague@sfu.ca 
Expertise: The link between extreme weather events and climate change, natural disasters.

YOLANDA CLATWORTHY, assistant director, mitigating wildfire, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
yolanda_clatworthy@sfu.ca
Expertise: mitigating wildfires, the root causes of catastrophic wildfire, impacts on rural and Indigenous communities.

JAMES WHITEHEAD, engagement analyst, mitigating wildfire, Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue
james_whitehead@sfu.ca
Expertise: the role of and need for dialogue and collaboration in the way we address the risk of wildfire in B.C., evacuation reluctance and the impact of wildfire on rural communities in B.C., engaging rural residents, the need for wildfire mitigation instead of just suppression, experiences as a former wildland firefighter in B.C. 

ANNE-MARIE NICOL, associate professor of professional practice, health sciences 
anicol@sfu.ca 
Expertise: Heat and wildfire smoke exposure. Heads up the , which is running workshops across B.C. this summer to teach community members how to build DIY air cleaners to improve their indoor air quality.  

STEPHANIE CLELAND, assistant professor, Faculty of Health Sciences
stephanie_cleland@sfu.ca
Expertise: wildfire smoke exposure, the health effects of smoke exposure, and how to reduce exposure and mitigate adverse health impacts. Co-author of a study published by in February along with an article in .

CONTACT

SAM SMITH, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Communications & Marketing 
236.880.3297 | samuel_smith@sfu.ca

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778.782.3210

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