December 17, 2024

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell: Head Of The U.S. Fire Administration. A Conversation About The Lahaina Fire, Wildfire Tech, And PFAS Affecting Firefighters.

49 minutes

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Today, I welcome Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, who heads the U.S. Fire Administration.

Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell was appointed by President Joseph Biden as the U.S. fire administrator on Oct. 25, 2021. Prior to her appointment, Lori served nearly 3 years as the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the International Public Safety Data Institute, which she founded after retiring from a 26-year tenure as a senior executive in the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF).

Today, we discuss the autonomous helicopters being developed for wildfire, some of which we may see in California as early as next year, and the new wildfire AI systems being installed for detection. We also discuss the difficulties with the post-fire recovery that took place after the Lahaina Fire in Hawaii.

We dive into the PFAS studies being conducted by the U.S. Fire Administration and other agencies with concerns about firefighter cancer rates at all-time highs. They are working to find new gear and retardants for firefighters that don’t contain these chemicals.

A wide-ranging and fascinating conversation.

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