Mt. SAC Hosts Summit on Wildfire Resilience

March 13, 2026 - 05:55 PM

Mt. San Antonio College will host ReadyED 2026 on March 17–18, bringing together educators, workforce leaders, students, and public agency partners from across California to explore solutions to the state’s growing wildfire and landscape resilience challenges.

Designed as a hub for collaboration and skill-building, the two-day gathering will focus on how education, workforce development, and applied science can work together to prepare the next generation of resilience professionals.

The event opens at 3 p.m. Tuesday with a session titled “Educating for Wildfire, Landscape, and Community Resilience” at Mt. SAC’s Summit Event Center.

Prior to the start of the conference, participants can take part in immersive field trips highlighting the work of regional agencies and educators addressing wildfire risk and environmental stewardship.

One trip will take attendees to the Angeles National Forest Supervisor’s Office, where a series of engaging presentations will showcase the wide range of vital functions the National Forest manages, from conservation and resource protection to civil engineering, recreation, and fire prevention.  The visit will conclude at the Chantry Flat Recreation Area, where participants will explore the relationship between forest landscapes and nearby urban communities.

Another field experience will bring participants to the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s San Dimas Forestry Unit, where staff work with residents to promote defensible space and fire-resilient landscaping—and even operates its own nursery to grow and distribute fire resistant plants at no cost to the community. On this field trip, attendees will tour the nursery, hear firsthand about the division’s innovative approach to community education and engagement, and take part in an interactive, hands-on activity alongside Forestry Division staff.

A third field trip will take place at Mt. SAC’s North Parcel, also known as Buzzard’s Peak, a 72-acre property purchased in 2022 to serve as a living laboratory for environmental stewardship and wildfire mitigation. As a hillside landscape adjacent to residential communities, the North Parcel also plays an important role in reducing wildfire risk while improving long-term forest resiliency.

A key feature of the visit will be Mt. SAC’s Wildland Fire Academy cadets offering a firsthand look at wildland fire operations and safety with a fire line-construction demonstration as part of Mt. SAC’s wildfire mitigation efforts. This hands-on demonstration will illustrate how fuel reduction, brush clearance, and defensible space strategies are applied on the site, while also supporting applied training and workforce development for Wildland Fire Academy cadets. 

On March 18, conference sessions will focus on workforce development and career pathways in wildfire resilience. Panels will explore topics such as creating fire-resilient communities through building materials and design, the role of community colleges in disaster recovery and workforce training, and career opportunities in natural resources and wildland fire.

Representatives from agencies including the U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire will provide students with practical guidance on navigating hiring processes and preparing for careers in the growing field of wildfire and landscape resilience.

For more information about the conference, visit https://californiacommunitycolleges.cventevents.com/event/ReadyED2026