WUI – FireDAWG Innovation Forum
Participants
From the Forest to the Backyard: Using Data to Combat the Flames
Tackle the hottest topics in wildfire data analysis and design cutting-edge strategies for mitigation and preparedness.
- Date: Thursday March 27, 2025
- Time: 8:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Location: Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), Kansas City Convention Center, Kansas City, Missouri. For additional information on WUI and the event venue, please visit: https://wui2025.eventscribe.net/index.asp
- Registration: Capped at 100 Stakeholders
- Cost for Registrants: Free with conference registration
- Hosted Amenities: Coffee and lunch will be provided.
- Theme: From Forest to The Backyard: Using Data To Combat The Flames
- Registration*: Opening Soon
- Questions: Please contact GISPrograms@iafc.org
Detailed Agenda
Data-Driven Solutions for Wildfire Prediction, Response, and Resilience. We delved into the hottest topics in wildfire data analysis.
| Time | Presenter | Topic |
| 8:00 am – 8:10 am | Chief Jeff Dulin, IAFC | Welcome! |
| 8:10 am – 8:40 am | Rachael Brady, ALERTWest | Situational Awareness and Wildfire Detection with AI |
| 8:40 am – 9:00 am | Kate Dargan, FireSAT | Building Tomorrow’s Fire Suppression with FireSat |
| 9:00 am – 9:20 am | Braniff A. Davis, Geospatial Analyst Senior, Austin Fire Department, Wildfire Division | Data-Driven Wildfire Preparedness |
| 9:20 am – 9:35 am | ———————————– | Break |
| 9:35 am – 9:55 am | Brian Metzgar, Fire Protection Engineer, National Fire & EMS Division, USFA | Achieving Nationwide Awareness on WUI Exposure Using GIS Technology |
| 9:55 am – 10:15 am | Craig Daughtery, IAFC Wildfire Policy Committee (WFPC) | Sparking Innovation: Using Data & StoryMaps to Design Wildfire Tabletop Exercises |
| 10:15 am – 10:45 am | Panel Discussion | Bridging the Gap: From Data Insights to Actionable Solutions |
| 10:45 am – 11:25 am | Breakout Group Discussions | The Wildfire Wild West: Untaming Data |
| 11:25 am – 11:30 am | Chief Jeff Dulin, IAFC | Closing |
| 11:30 am – 12:30 am | Open mic jam session! | Hosted Lunch |
CRRL – FireDAWG Innovation Forum
Using Data To Protect Our Community: The Science Of When, Where, and What
Tackle the hottest topics in wildfire data analysis and design cutting-edge strategies for mitigation and preparedness.
- Date: Monday May 12, 2025
- Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Location: Community Risk Reduction Leadership Conference (CRRL), Renaissance, Phoenix Glendale Hotel, Glendale, Arizona.
- For additional information on CRRL and the event venue, please visit: https://crrl2025.eventscribe.net/
- Registration: Capped at 125 Stakeholders
- Cost for Registrants: Free with conference registration
- Hosted Amenities: Coffee and lunch will be provided.
- Theme: Using Data To Protect Our Community: The Science Of When, Where, and What
- Registration*: Opening Soon
- Questions: Please contact GISPrograms@iafc.org
Detailed Agenda
Data-Driven Solutions for Wildfire Prediction, Response, and Resilience. We delved into the hottest topics in wildfire data analysis.
| Time | Topic | Presenter |
| 8:00 am – 8:10 am | Welcome | Jeff Dulin – IAFC, Mike Cox – Esri, Greg Rogers – FLSS |
| 8:10 am – 9:00 am | The Science of When (Current State of Fire Data Analytics) | Mike Cox, Craig Weinschenk, Joe Powers, Preet Bassi Moderator: Baylie Scott |
| 9:00 am – 9:30 am | NERIS update | FSRI |
| 9:30 am – 10:00 am | Phoenix Fire Department | Jennifer Hill |
| 10:00 am – 10:15 am | Break | ———————————– |
| 10:15 am – 11:00 am | ESO Panel – Using Data To Reduce Operational Risks | Bill Gardner |
| 11:00 am – 11:30 am | USFA | Rebecca Harned |
| 11:30 am – 11:50 am | Leveraging AI For CRRL | Scott Ramey |
| 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm | Lunch | ———————————– |
| 12:45 pm – 1:00 pm | IROL | Jill Cotton |
| 1:00 pm – 1:15 pm | First Due | Ari Goldblatt – Operationalizing CRR for Incident Response |
| 1:15 pm – 1:35 pm | Brighton Fire Rescue District, CO | Elizabeth Bednarcik, Division Chief of Prevention |
| 1:35 pm – 2:20 pm | Deccan Panel – Operationalizing CRR | Eddie Buchannan |
| 2:20 pm – 2:35 pm | Break | ———————————– |
| 2:35 pm – 4:30 pm | The Science of Where (CRR Workshop ft. CRAIG 1300) | Esri, NFPA, ESCI |
| 4:30 pm – 4:45 pm | Billion Readiness Initiative & Closing | Jeff Dulin |
Participants
FRI – FireDAWG Innovation Forum
From the Fire Data Analyst’s Desk: Making Data Analysis Fun!
The FireDAWG Innovation Forum @ Fire-Rescue International (FRI) is a full-day in-person event designed to ignite groundbreaking ideas and forge collaborations that will revolutionize fire data analysis.
- Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2025
- Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
- Location: Fire-Rescue International (FRI), Orange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL (Room XXX). For additional information on FRI and the event venue, please visit: Location: Fire-Rescue International (FRI), Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, TX (Room C146). For additional information on FRI and the event venue, please visit: https://www.iafc.org/fri/
- Capped Registration: 125 stakeholders
- Cost for Registrants: Free
- Hosted Amenities: Coffee and lunch.
- Theme: From the Fire Data Analyst’s Desk: Making Data Analysis Fun!
- Registration*:
- Please register for FireDAWG here:
- Your FireDAWG registration will include a free FRI EXPO pass. If you would like to register for the full FRI education conference please visit: Location: Fire-Rescue International (FRI), Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, Dallas, TX (Room C146). For additional information on FRI and the event venue, please visit: https://www.iafc.org/fri/
- *Please note, that this is an in-person event, registration is limited to our public sector (Federal, local, state, territory, and tribal agencies) and non-profit community. Private sector participation is limited to event sponsors.
- Questions: Please contact GISPrograms@iafc.org
Detailed Agenda
| Time | Topic | Presenter |
| 8:00 am – 8:05 am | Welcome | Jeff Dulin & Mike Cox |
| 8:05 am – 8:25 am | NERIS Update | Tom Jenkins |
| 8:25 am – 8:45 am | The Economic Impact of an Incident | Dan Munsey , Chief San Bernadino County Fire Department |
| 8:45 am – 9:45 am | Theme 1 “Promoting Codes Through Community Risk Reduction Technology” | Jill Cotton, IROL Bill Gardner, ESO Moderators. Panel: Greg Rogers (NFPA), Robert Marshall (UL), Michael OBrian (Fire Chief, Brighton Area Authority, MI), Chelsea Rubadou (NFPA), Mike Cox (ESRI), |
| 9:45 am – 10:05 am | Department Solution 1 | Kelly Martin, CPSE CFAI data, the FESA designation, and/or AFESA |
| 10:05 am – 10:20 am | Break | |
| 10:20 am – 10:40 am | Department Solution 2 | John Oates |
| 10:40 am – 11:00 am | Department Solution 3 | Charlie Horne, Dr. Anthony Lindsay Charlotte Fire Department |
| 11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Theme 2 “Data Visualization: The Future of Data” | Chris French, First Due Mike Cox, ESRI Jill Cotton, IROL Bill Gardner, ESO |
| 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm | Lunch – Lunch Speaker: An Open and Honest Discussion on the Use of AI | Dr Lori Moore-Merrell & Rebecca Allen |
| 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm | Theme 3 “AI and the Responsible Data Analyst” | Eddie Buchanan, Deccan Mike Cox, ESRI Chris French, First Due Moderators |
| 2:00 pm – 2:20 pm | Wildfire Technology Update | Rebecca Harned |
| 2:20 pm – 3:20 pm | Theme 4 “Data Analysis in Real Time for Operational Effectiveness” | Bill Gardner, ESO Eddie Buchanan, Deccan Moderators |
| 3:20 pm – 3:50 pm | Leveraging Data to Combat Cross Staffing (Data Visualization) | Blake Stephens, Asst. Chief, Hanover (VA) Fire-EMS |
| 3:50 pm – 4:00 pm | Closing and Takeaway | Mike Cox & Jeff Dulin |
| 4:00 pm – 4:15 pm | Break | |
| 4:15 pm – 6:00 pm | Tech Council Meeting TSI Planning Session | Kevin Sofen & Scott Roseberry |
Sponsors
We would like to give a big thank you to our meeting sponsors for supporting our mission and making this initiative a success. To learn more about our sponsors and partners, please visit our Sponsor Page.
TSI – FireDAWG Workshop
Building Automation and Speed into Fire Data Analytics
Are you a Fire Data Analyst? Do you work with data analytics? Interested in how innovative data analysis can result in operational improvements?
Join us for a one-day event that will bring together fire data analysts, data scientists, and technology vendors to collaborate on the latest innovations in fire data analysis.
We’ll discuss challenges and opportunities in developing and deploying fire analysis technologies and capabilities in a local fire department. Together, we will drive the future of fire data analysis and make a real difference in the lives of firefighters and communities.
- Date: Monday, December 8, 2025
- Time: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm.
- Location: Technology Summit International (TSI) at the Irving Convention Center – Irving, Texas.
- Questions: Please contact GISPrograms@iafc.org
- Registration:
- *Please note: This is an in-person event, registration is limited to our public sector (Federal, local, state, territory, and tribal agencies) and non-profit community, and registration for both the event and Technology Summit International (TSI) is required. Private sector participation is limited to event sponsors. To register for TSI, please visit: https://www.iafc.org/tsi/.
Detailed Agenda
The August FireDAWG workshop identified Training, Best/Proven Practices, and Data Interoperability as the top three items for the group to focus our attention on. So, we developed the below agenda around those three areas
| Time | Presenter | Topic |
| 8:00 – 8:05 am | Jeff Dulin, Strategic Advisor, IAFC Mike Cox, Director Fire & EMS, Esri | Welcoming Remarks |
| 8:05 – 8:25 am | Craig Weinschenk, Director of Research and Baylie Scott, Research Scientist UL Research Institutes | Fire Safety Research Institute | NERIS: What’s New and Where We’re Going! |
| 8:25 – 9:00 am | Alberto Nieto, Product Engineer – Spatial Statistics, Esri | Getting Real with AI: Applying Available GeoAI Tools in Your Fire Department |
| 9:00 – 9:45 am | Andrew Newell, Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Planning, Philadelphia Fire Department – PA | In Your Home and on Your Street: How GIS powers the Philadelphia Fire Department |
| 9:45 – 10:05 am | Jeff Lenard, Firefighter & EMT, DC Fire & EMS Department | Managing Whole Blood Distribution with GIS |
| 10:05 – 10:20 am | Break with Sponsors | Coffee Break |
| 10:20 – 10:40 am | Vanessa Green-Montgomery, GIS Manager, Denco Area 9-1-1 District – TX | Indoor Mapping Project for Public Safety |
| 10:40 – 11:00 am | Jason Heartisan, Captain, Prescott Fire Department – AZ, Jack Breitbeil Deccan International | Real-Time Deployment Optimization |
| 11:00 – 11:30 am | Baylie Scott, Fire Safety Research Institute Joe Powers, Managing Director, ESCI Mike Cox, Esri | Preview into NERIS Public Incident Data – Applying it to your Fire Department Operations |
| 11:30am – 12:00 pm | Luke Culleny, Business Systems Analyst | Firefighter/Paramedic, Chatham County Fire Department – GA | Hospitals Are Hydrants: Visualizing and Preventing EMS Hospital Bed Delays |
| 12:00 – 12:40 pm | Lunch with Sponsors | Hosted Lunch |
| 12:40 – 1:00 pm | Bill Gardner, Executive Director Fire & EMS, ESO | Starting the Call Right! Is your CAD setting you up for success? |
| 1:00 – 1:20 pm | Rick Casler, Assistant Chief, Clermont Fire & Rescue – FL , Jack Breitbeil Deccan International | Leveraging Data to Meet Growing Service Demands |
| 1:20 – 1:40 | Chris French and TBD | FirstDue Session with Fire Chief Panel |
| 1:40 – 2:10 pm | John Oates, Executive Director, IPSDI Preet Bassi, CEO, CPSE Rebecca Harned, Principal Research Scientist UL | Panel: The Future of Data Analytics in the Fire Service |
| 2:10 – 2:40 pm | Dr. Humaid AlAli, Deputy Director of Fire Affairs, Ministry of Interior, United Arab of Emirates (UAE) | Applying Data and AI for Proactive and Predictive Fire Services |
| 2:40 – 3:00 pm | Jill Cotton President IROL, John Oates, Executive Director, IPSDI | “From Insights to Impact: Building Partnerships Through Data” |
| 3:00 – 3:10 pm | Break with Sponsors | Coffee Break |
| 3:10 – 3:30 pm | Alex Temes, City Administration, City of Roswell – GA | Fire Station Location and Traffic Preemption with GIS |
| 3:30 – 3:50 pm | Mitch Petterson, OnStar | OnStar Presentation: Knowing What You’re Going to – Vehicle Telematics |
| 3:50 – 4:30 pm | Don Hannemann, Chief Data Officer, Interagency Wildfire, USFS and DOI | Innovations and Model Practices in Data Management and Governance for Wildfire |
| 4:30 – 4:45 pm | Rebecca Harned, Mike Cox & Jeff Dulin | Wrap Up Discussion & Closing |
Please join us for a Happy Hour Reception Sponsored by First Due at the Texacan Hotel Courtyard! 5pm-7pm!
Sponsors
We would like to give a big thank you to our meeting sponsors for supporting our mission and making this initiative a success. To learn more about our sponsors and partners, please visit our Sponsor Page.