WSU and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories launch new wildfire research partnership

PULLMAN, Wash. - A new initiative that pairs university research with industry expertise to address wildfire-related challenges across the Pacific Northwest is being launched by Washington State University and Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL).

WSU has extensive expertise across multiple dimensions of wildfire research, including fire behavior and post-fire ecosystem recovery; the health impacts of wildfire smoke; resilient electrical grids and water systems; and the application of advanced AI for early detection and risk assessment. SEL complements WSU's research strengths through decades of global leadership in electric power system protection, automation, and communications.

"Wildfire is a complex challenge that touches virtually every sector of our economy and every community in our region," said Kim Christen, vice president for research at Washington State University. "This partnership reflects the best of what WSU and SEL have accomplished together over many years. By bringing together WSU's multidisciplinary research expertise and SEL's industry leadership, we are building a model for collaboration that can generate practical solutions, strengthen resilience, and create lasting impact for Washington and the Pacific Northwest."

The first phase of the partnership has developed a regional assessment that demonstrates the need for a coordinated, multi-sector approach to addressing the complex and interconnected impacts of wildfire, while also evaluating successful research and public-impact consortia to identify models and best practices that can help inform the design of a future wildfire consortium.

The next phase will support WSU researchers in developing research concepts aligned with specific industry and community priorities, focusing on wildfire challenges and establishing pathways to practical solutions. These concepts will be positioned to attract external partners and investment while accelerating the development of research and innovation initiatives.

Together, these efforts aim to address local and regional needs while creating solutions with application across the Pacific Northwest and beyond, shortening the distance between identifying a wildfire challenge and putting an effective solution to work.

"At SEL, innovation begins with solving real-world problems for our customers," said Greg Zweigle, senior vice president of technology. "This partnership with WSU creates new opportunities to advance work that helps address the challenges associated with wildfire."

Media Contacts

• Chad Kruger, WSU Office of Research, [email protected]
• Kate Wilhite, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, 509-592-5109, [email protected]