The deeper you dive into the subject of fire, the faster the illusion that it’s a simple problem disappears; this complexity is exactly what we explore through our wildfire webinars. Fire can be described through chemical reaction equations, but it can also be viewed as a landscape phenomenon, a social issue, and an operational challenge all at once. Understanding wildfires brings together knowledge from the natural sciences, engineering, firefighting, spatial planning, and crisis management. And a truly deep understanding of this phenomenon only begins to emerge at the intersection of these perspectives.
The problem is that most people only see a fragment of the whole. Typical firefighters view fire through the lens of suppression efforts, foresters see losses in forest stands, and scientists focus on models and datasets within their own fields.
The subject of fire is studied by many outstanding experts around the world. They represent different schools of thought, backgrounds, and experiences, which is why they describe wildfire reality using varying terminologies, each centered around their own domain. Everyone is right, but only partially. Only by combining all these perspectives can we assemble a complete picture and gain a deeper understanding of the problem. That is why, to truly understand this phenomenon and become a true “student of fire,” one must learn from many teachers.
The climate is changing, forest structures are evolving, and technologies and response methods are advancing. In such a reality, confining oneself to a single discipline leads to oversimplifications. The goal of SmokeD System is not only to develop technology, but also to build a common language that enables all stakeholders to talk about fire in a way that is clear and mutually understood.
And it was precisely from this need that our webinar series was born. We wanted to create an interdisciplinary space for exchanging knowledge about wildfires; a virtual place where different ways of thinking about fire can be confronted, with access to people who operate in entirely different conditions on a daily basis, sometimes on the other side of the world.
The idea emerged from experiences such as Forest Camp (https://smokedsystem.com/multicultural-fire-laboratory/), where foresters, firefighters, and scientists from around the world train together in wildfire suppression and build an incredible network. We have been supporting this initiative for years (https://smokedsystem.com/forest-camp-2024/), as it aligns with our holistic approach to wildfire issues. Each evening, after the day’s activities, conversations around the campfire often continue late into the night; and still there isn’t enough time to hear all the stories and best practices. The webinars are a natural extension of these discussions, bringing them into a space where distance no longer matters. The series is delivered in collaboration with the SNEP (Association of Independent Fire Experts https://snep.pl/ ), giving a voice to instructors and participants of the forest camp, as well as practitioners and specialists representing different approaches to wildfire challenges.
So far, more than a dozen such meetings have already taken place. The topics? From unexploded ordnance on training grounds, through peatland fires and controlled burning, to predictive models based on machine learning. From Lebanon to Ukraine and the United States. From the challenges of local communities to global mechanisms. There is one common denominator: fire – something that cannot be confined to a single discipline or a single narrative.
These are not academic discussions detached from reality. They are conversations about problems that truly occur in the field, about mistakes and limitations, but also about solutions that work elsewhere and may work here as well. As a result, science becomes more accessible to practitioners, and practice is better described and understood through science.
Because in the world of wildfires, knowledge should never stand still. It is becoming increasingly clear that professionals working with fire will need to continuously develop their skills throughout their entire careers. Rapid climate change and growing environmental pressure leave no room for stagnation. Education and training are becoming one of the foundations of the safety system. That is why all of our webinars are recorded and made available afterward. They can be revisited, paused, and reflected upon. It is a resource that is constantly growing and will support the development of competencies across the entire community.
As a technology company, we could focus solely on the parameters of our solutions. But we know that technology is only a tool. Knowledge and collaboration are the foundation. Without understanding fire dynamics, as well as its environmental and operational conditions, no technology will ever be fully utilized. We want to be part of the conversation about what a modern forest protection system should look like. And that is why webinars are so close to our philosophy of operation.
We invite you to help us build this space together.
We encourage you to explore the full list of sessions:
on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thesmokedwildfiredetectors8961/videos
and in the webinars section of our website: https://smokedsystem.com/webinars/
