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ReScape Firescaping Qualification Training - Online
Thursday, November 18, 2021, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM PDT
Category: ReScape Professional Trainings

ReScape Firescaping Qualification Training 
DatesNovember 18, 19, 2021 | Time: 9:00am - 1:00pm 
Format:Live Online Training 
Course Tuition: 
  • Early Bird till 10/18: $445 
  • Group Rate (5 or more from the same agency): $445 
  • Regular: $495 per person 
California continues to face increasingly damaging and brutal wildfire seasons. Public agencies and jurisdictions throughout the state are trying to address this unprecedented crisis with better preparation and approaches to build community resilience and reduce damage. ReScape is helping to address this crisisIn 2020, we established a Resilient Regenerative Firescaping Program, the first part of which is the Regenerative Firescaping Qualification Training (FQT). We will add new qualification trainingscommunity engagement activities and do our part to proactively address what scientists and officials have stressed: that the wildfires have been exacerbated by the effects of climate change, and are likely to worsen in the future.  

ReScape’s Resilient Regenerative Firescaping Qualification Training (FQT) is based on our 8 Principles for Regenerative Landscapes (8 Principles) and establishes a more sustainable long-term approach to managing fire hazards beyond current vegetation management practices. The course provides comprehensive best practices in regenerative landscaping, specifically oriented to reducing fire hazards and preparing cities and large property owners/managers for safety before, during and after a firestorm. It offers cities and communities a pragmatic framework to limit wildfire damage by developing and managing landscapes, advocating for maintenance on others, and supporting property owners to design, build and maintain for fire. 

ReScape’s 8 Principles approach to firescaping protects properties and landscapes and considers the best practices to mitigate climate change and create beauty with carbon sequestering landscaping, green low-impact infrastructure, waste plant debris prevention and decrease in landfill costs. It explores regenerative landscape features, water capture and purity, embodied energy reduction and cost and maintenance savings.    

California Governor's report, "Wildfires and Climate Change: California's Energy Future" confirms what we know: "Climate change has created a new wildfire reality for California. The state's fire season is now almost year round. More than 25 million acres of California wildlands are classified as under very high or extreme fire threat. Approximately 25 percent of the state's population - 11 million people - lives in that high risk area. Wildfires are not only more frequent by far more devastating."  
 

As of August 2021, close to 24,000 wildland firefighters and incident management teams are battling wildfire blazes, which have so far burned over 2.2 million acres across 15 states. 

 Smoke from wildfires burning along the West Coast is choking the entire United States, reminding everyone of the hazards of climate change, and the direct threat posed to health.

This program educates, aligns and empowers public agencies, commercial and institutional property owners, and landscapers to work collaboratively across departments and organizations to implement whole-systems firescaping strategies to protect people, assets and our future welfare.

Who Should Attend:  
  • Public Agency Department Employees – City/County: Who design, maintain, and protect infrastructure and protect people. Examples:fire, emergency services, public works, facilities, parks and recreation, community development, building and planning departments, etc. 
  • Commercial/institutional property owners, land managers: Who design and/or maintain multi-family homes, hospitals, school properties, and other large buildings, properties and/or their landscapes. Examples: landscape architects, designers and maintenance teams, asset, finance, and property managers, insurance agents, etc. 
  • Anyone responsible for programs, policies and procedures, compliance of above 
The Training Includes: 
  • Two four-hour interactive live online sessions with robust conversations and activities with the instructor and colleague 
  • Strategies for fire protection using fire safety zones and defensible space principles 
  • Lessons and discussions on fire resistant plant selection, biological enhancements and maintenance vegetation modification techniques to reduce property vulnerability to wildfire 
  • Technical guidelines on how to protect and manage six types of California Urban Landscapes 
  • Specifics on firescaping compliance with local and state ordinances and regulations 
  • Best firescaping practices to mitigate climate change and create beauty 
  • Resources with contacts, book lists, and articles with the most up-to-date comprehensive information on firescaping program best practices 
  • Plans and exploration on how to create and manage a comprehensive firescaping program with community support that saves money, stress, and most importantly- lives 
  • Tools to implement immediate next action steps to create and manage a comprehensive firescaping program

About the Instructor 
The Firescaping Qualification Training (FQT) is taught by Douglas Kent, author of the best-selling book on landscaping for fire protection, “Firescaping, 2nd Edition.” Doug began his work in fire protection in Mill Valley (CA) in 1993. Since then he has been on the front line of many fires, traversed the remains of most of the state’s worst fire, and interviewed experts across the state. Kent has worked for 15 years with cities, NGOs, private companies, and utilities across California on a variety of projects. From risk assessments to landscape prescriptions, motivational public presentations to videos and webinars, he has dug his hands in soot filled soils, learned a tremendous amount, and is motivated to create a resilient and formidable California. 

ReScape Regenerative Education Fund scholarships available for anyone, and also employees of StopWaste member agencies. [email protected] for more information.

Register Here