2026 Wildfire Risk Reduction Qualification Course and Assessment - Bastrop State Park

Overview

The threat wildfire poses to residents of Texas increases everyday as more communities are built in natural areas. Recent fire seasons have seen increasing property loss and death associated with wildfire. We know that it is not a question of if a fire will start, but when. As professionals who have daily interaction with the public, arborists can reduce wildfire risk and protect lives, homes and landscapes. When homes and their surrounding property are protected, ecosystem benefits at threat from wildfire can be protected as well.

As an ISA Certified Arborist, have you considered how your skills and experience can improve the safety and quality of tree care to protect Texans and ecosystems from wildfire? By taking the Wildfire Risk Assessment Qualification course, you will become more knowledgeable about how to evaluate and mitigate property from the threat wildfire poses.

The Texas A&M Forest Service and Texas Chapter ISA have developed this qualification to introduce you to new terms and principles to incorporate into your arboriculture practice. You will explore how wildfire moves through a landscape and mitigation options you could perform or bring to the attention of your client. This course will be limited to 25 ISA Certified Arborists, and we will conduct field exercise on homes near the training center. A written exam and field test will need to be successfully passed to gain the credential. Total course time will be 16 hours, with four hours dedicated to the examination on Thursday afternoon.

Each participant that successfully completes the course and passes the assessment will receive the status of Wildfire Risk Reduction Qualified. Their qualification will be noted on the ISA Texas website as well as on any handout and other materials referencing qualified individuals.

The course is limited to 25 people and lunch will be provided both days.

Agenda

Tuesday, April 21

8:00-8:45 Introduction and Logistics - Instructor and student introductions. Instructor will complete the course overview and logistics.

8:45-9:15 Role of the Arborist - Basics of how to add wildfire risk reduction services to the arborist toolbox.

9:15-9:25 Break

9:30-10:45 Past and Present of Wildfire - Subjects covered will include the history of fire suppression in the United States, the wildland urban interface, Texas ecoregions, and fire effects on ecosystems.

10:45 -11:30 Fire Ecology and Physics - Students will gain an understanding of fire dependence, history and regimes. This section details how existing vegetation, weather, topography influence fire behavior.

11:30-12:30 Lunch (provided)

12:30-1:30 Fire Ecology and Physics (continued)

1:30-1:40 Break

1:40- 2:15: Field Session- How Fire Moves through the Landscape - A field discussion on fire ecology and weather. This section covers how weather, topography and fuels influence the intensity, severity and movement of fire in various landscapes. In addition, covers how human structures influence and can be damaged by fire.

2:20-5:00 Vegetation Management, Hazard Assessment and Risk Reduction - Unit will cover the Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) concept, including ember intrusion, fire resistant construction and landscaping, and an assessment of a home. Students will learn how to assess and manage fire risk in rural, suburban and urban landscapes.

Wednesday, April 22

8:00- 8:15 Questions

8:15-9:00 Activity: Home Ignition Zone Assessment

9:00-9:15 Break

9:15-11:00 Field Demonstration for Wildfire Hazard Awareness and Risk Reduction - Continuation of the indoor discussion in order to assess and mitigate wildfire risk. Students will use the Home Ignition Zone Assessment Form.

11:15-12:00 Regulations and Resources - Students will gain an understanding of the BMPs covering shaded fuel breaks and regulations on landscape features like aquifer recharge areas, streamside management zones, local tree ordinances, protected wildlife, and other sensitive areas. Marketing of vegetation mitigation projects into your business will be discussed.

12:00-1:00 Lunch (provided)

1:00-1:30 Final Questions and Review

1:30-2:00 Written Exam - Exam is 50 questions. When students have turned in their written exam, they will receive a Course Evaluation form to be completed and turned in.

2:00-2:15 Break

2:15 -4:00 Qualification Testing - Successful completion of an HIZ assessment and a risk assessment mitigation plan will gain the student credit for this course.

4:00-5:00 Closing - Review test results and discuss the final field activity.

CEU's

Certified Arborist 9
BCMA - Management 9
Utility Specialist 9
Certified Tree Climber Specialist 9
TW Aerial Lift Specialist 9

Course Pricing

ISAT member: $275.00 USD
Non-ISAT member: $350.00 USD

Member pricing is an exclusive benefit to ISAT members only. You must be a current ISAT member at the time of registration. (Click Here to renew)

Cancellation Policy

A processing fee of $50 USD will be charged for all cancellations received on or before March 31, 2026. Cancellations after March 31, 2026, will be charged the full amount of the registration fee. Cancellation requests must be emailed to [email protected].

Speakers

Kari Hines

Kari Hines graduated with a Bachelors of Sciences in Forestry from Northern Arizona University. She has been with the Texas A&M Forest Service since 2012, first as an Inventory Forester and then with the Mitigation and Prevention Department. She enjoys helping people realize wildfire risks and learn how to protect themselves, their families and communities, all while balancing the environmental needs of their property. On top of various National Wildfire Coordinating Group qualifications including Public Information Officer Type 2 and Firefighter Type 1, she holds Certified Arborist credentials through International Society of Arboriculture.

Matt Ford

Matt Ford graduated with a degree in Forestry from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2009. After graduation, he spent the next several years as a forest inventory and analysis forester with Oklahoma Forestry Services. He joined Texas A&M Forest Service in Fall of 2017 as a wildland urban interface specialist in the Houston office, working on fuels projects, and prevention programing. It was during this tenure that Matt got involved and interested in wildfire mitigation and prevention. In 2025, he took a position as a program specialist in fire information and education. Matt’s day to day activities include educating the public on wildfires, serving as a Public Information Officer and Prevention Education Team Member, and being an active member of the Lone Star State Type II Initial Attack Hand Crew.

Adam Turner

Adam Turner graduated with a degree in Ecology from Hendrix College in 2018. He became interested in wildfire management after working at Philmont Scout Ranch during the Ute Park Fire where he worked on wildfire recovery and suppression repair. He joined Texas A&M Forest Service after Philmont as a resource specialist, working on fuels projects and wildfire suppression. In 2020 he took a position as a Wildland Urban Interface Coordinator in the Mineral Wells office. Adam’s day to day activities include serving as a Public Information Officer, educating others about wildfires, developing fuel management projects, and plan for future wildfires with community organizations. Adam is also an active member of the Lone Star State Type II Initial Attack Hand Crew.

Dayziah Petruska

Dayziah Petruska, who has been with the Texas A&M Forest Service since 2020, is the Wildland Urban Interface Coordinator for Region 6 based in San Antonio. That same year, she graduated from Texas A&M University with degrees in both Forestry and Ecological Restoration. During college, Dayziah participated in research using fire to control invasive woody species in West Texas. She started her career with the agency as an Urban Forester, a role that ignited a passion for our urban spaces. As a WUI, Dayziah works with communities both large and small to reduce their overall wildfire risk through education and fuels management. She is extremely interested in the way that we can pair traditional and modern land management techniques to improve urban greenspaces while concurrently reducing wildfire risk; all while increasing public education and awareness.

Dayziah is an ISA Certified Arborist and holds Oak Wilt, Wildfire Risk Reduction, and Tree Risk Assessment qualifications.

Location Information

Location Name
Bastrop State Park
Address
100 Park Road 1A, Bastrop, TX, 78602 US
Directions
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