TRU Wildfire

Thompson Rivers University (TRU) and the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS) are leading the future of fire management.

Wildfire concerns are growing with extreme fire behaviour and fire activity becoming the norm. A different approach is critical to address this new reality.

In partnership, TRU and BCWS have worked side-by-side on a solutions-focused and comprehensive approach to current and future wildfire challenges. We call this TRU Wildfire.

TRU Wildfire brings together and links four key areas — research, education, training and innovation. Through these, society will be in a better position to prevent, prepare for and respond to wildfire.

Through new research and innovation, we will adapt and find solutions. Through education and training, we will support firefighters and communities.

TRU Wildfire represents a unique opportunity.

Explore and learn more through the pages and videos on this website.

TRU leads the way

TRU is distinctly positioned to lead world-class wildfire research, education, training and innovation.

Expertise

TRU is home to the Institute for Wildfire Science, Adaptation and Resiliency, and is the only Canadian university to have two research chair positions solely dedicated to wildfire science. TRU is also home to researchers investigating wildfire topics such as climate change, human health, Indigenous knowledge and use of cultural burning, social impacts of disaster, species at risk, and AI.

Partnerships

In addition to the partnership with the BC Wildfire Service, TRU has established partnerships with knowledge holders, practitioners and policymakers in BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories. TRU is a member of the Research Universities Council of BC, the Interior Universities Research Coalition, Canada Wildfire, and locally has agreements with Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and the City of Kamloops.

University features

TRU, a mid-sized research university that also provides non-credit training, has expertise and experience in flexible learning delivery, in-community training, and Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR).

Location

Kamloops, BC, the location of TRU’s main campus, is one of the busiest spots for wildfire response in the world. Kamloops is home to the Provincial Wildfire Coordination Centre for the BC Wildfire Service, the Provincial Airtanker Centre, regional offices of the First Nations Emergency Services Society of BC, and the Central Region offices of Emergency Management BC.