Fighting Fire with Fire - Applying Prescribed and Cultural Fire as a Tool for Proactive Forest Management

Explore the critical role of prescribed and cultural fire practices in proactive forest management through this 49-minute lecture by Dr. Kira Hoffman, a professional fire ecologist, forester, and former heli-attack firefighter from the University of British Columbia. Learn how Indigenous-led fire stewardship and prescribed burning serve as essential tools for forest management, moving beyond traditional fire suppression approaches. Discover how historical fire practices have shaped present-day forests and understand why fire suppression has diminished the resilience of both landscapes and human communities. Gain insights into collaborative place-based research methods that support Indigenous fire stewardship practices and examine the ecological and social benefits of reintegrating fire as a natural forest management tool. Understand the scientific foundations behind using controlled fire to prevent catastrophic wildfires while restoring ecosystem health and community resilience.