Fighting fires with science 

It may not be wildfire season, but Jaclyn Semple and her student research assistants are working on wildfire management. They are developing a wildfire risk assessment model for Yukon government.

Jaclyn and her students spent the summer developing mathematical modeling for the project and are now busy validating the prototype with data on historical and theoretical ignition points from Wildland Fire Management. Jaclyn’s students will apply this data to test the model’s accuracy.

The model considers the fuel type, values and communities within a 20-metre radius of the fire and assigns a risk factor rating.

Once the model is calibrated and accurate, it will be applied by wildland fire fighters this coming fire season.

Jaclyn is an instructor in the School of Science and teaches physics, calculus, and astronomy.