2013 Backyards & Beyond Wildland Fire Education Conference and Assessing Wildfire Hazards In the Home Ignition Zone 2-day Workshop

Jack Cohen is a Research Physical Scientist with the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station in Missoula, Montana. Jack's research on the causes and context of Wildland/Urban Interface fire disasters has created a body of knowledge for application by others. His conception of the Home Ignition Zone and its application has guided the Firewise Communities efforts nationally, regionally and locally. He was a member of the NWCG Wildland/Urban Interface Working Team and helped co-found the Firewise Communities/USA Program. Jack has a BS degree in Forest Science (wildland fire) from the University of Montana, a MS degree in Bioclimatology from Colorado State University and additional university course work in meteorology and mechanical engineering. In 2002 Jack received the Golden Smokey Bear Award, the highest honor given to organizations or individuals for outstanding wildfire prevention service over at least a two-year period that is national in scope.

Pat is a nationally renowned and respected wildfire specialist who spent the first 10 years of his career on the frontlines of wildland fire as a member of a Type-1 hotshot crew, helitack and smokejumper for the forest service across the west. His career spans 35 years of experience in all aspects of wildland fire management serving as a regional level manager for the Bureau of Land Management, supervising aviation and fire management programs in Nevada and California; completing his federal career at the National Interagency Fire Center as DOI's national program leader in wildland/urban interface mitigation, wildland fire prevention and wildland fire education and information programs. Pat also has international experience and associations in Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Honduras. Pat was chairman, vice-chairman and a guiding influence for the NWCG Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Working Team, whose wildfire mitigation and firefighter safety projects include the popular Firewise website and Firewise Communities USA programs.