Wildland fire is having increasing impacts on human communities and ecoregions in western north America and beyond given changes in climatic patterns and land use. Issues include both unwanted wildfire losses and the historical natural role fire plays in forest and rangeland ecology. Interwoven with these issues are increasing dilemmas surrounding fire at the urban and rural interfaces, as well as the use of fire as a land management tool. The overarching goal of this course is to provide a broad understanding of wildland fire science as it impacts society, with an emphasis on critical thinking about its changing ecological and social roles.

This course may be taken 1 time for credit.