Bridging the gap between science and action, we convene communities and stakeholders to address the challenges of wildfire. Through trusted partnerships, we create science-based education and outreach programs that address emerging social and ecological needs.

Since its inception in 1997, LWF has created materials for residents that have been shared and applied to fire-prone regions throughout the country. LWF provides resources to homeowners, educators, community groups and firefighting professionals to improve defensible space, ensure homes have proper building materials, manage native and non-native vegetation and prepare for evacuation. Through community outreach events, peer-reviewed publications, social media and television and radio interviews, the LWF team brings the most up-to-date information on wildfire preparedness to Nevada residents and others across the country. LWF is a collaborative effort among federal, state, local firefighting agencies, and resource management agencies. LWF is managed by University of Nevada Reno, Extension, an EEO/AA institution.

Our Team

Image of Christina Restaino

Christina Restaino is the Director of the Living With Fire Program. She is also an Assistant Professor and Natural Resources Specialist with University of Nevada, Reno Extension, serving the state of Nevada, Great Basin, and Sierra Nevada regions. Her emphasis is on wildland fire science, forestry, and natural resource management. Her research has looked at the intersection of land management and forest resilience to fire and drought. She has worked extensively in science outreach and communication, translating ecological principles to resource management and forest and fire policy. Christina’s work has spanned the western United States. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in Natural Resource Management at UC Berkeley, her Master’s of Science and Doctorate in Environmental and Forest Sciences from University of Washington, and completed her postdoctoral studies at UC Davis.

headshot of Megan

Megan Kay is the Manager for the Living With Fire Program. She served as a wildland firefighter for five seasons in Carson City, Virginia City and Incline Village before earning her Bachelor of Arts studying fine arts and graphic design. She’s passionate about serving her community. While working as the Associate for the Nevada Arts Council’s Touring Exhibition Program she traveled all over the state of Nevada installing art, getting to know Nevadan’s in every county and building lasting relationships. When she’s not busy helping Nevadan’s learn how to minimize the threat of wildfire in their communities, she’s probably at home with her husband and daughter or playing music and crafting with her friends.

Photo of Spencer Eusden

Spencer Eusden is a curriculum developer for the Living With Fire Program working on a range of youth wildfire education initiatives from developing and implementing youth wildfire education curriculum to building high school wildfire workforce development programs. After receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Environmental Studies from Bowdoin College, he pivoted to work in science education, co-founding the non-profit Headwaters Science Institute. Spencer is also working on finishing his doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Nevada, Reno with a focus on methods for effectively using wildfire as a phenomenon for K-12 science learning. Outside of developing curriculum and doing his homework, Spencer is typically outside on public lands.

Photo of a woman in a green field surorunded by trees

Micaela Truslove is the Community Wildfire Preparedness Coordinator for the Living With Fire Program and has ten years’ experience as an environmental educator working in landscape horticulture and urban and community forestry, including working with post-fire communities to create ignition-resistant landscapes.

She is a former Colorado State University Extension Horticulture Specialist where she worked with residents, green industry professionals, local government partners, and HOAs to implement sustainable landscaping practices, and worked with the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University on water quality and access issues. Micaela has an MS in Forest Sciences and an MA in Sociology, with an emphasis in environmental and natural resource sociology, both from Colorado State University, and a BA in Anthropology from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Photo of a woman standing in a green field

Jenni Burr is the Outreach and Content Coordinator for the Living With Fire program. Her career journey has centered on using the lense of science to understand the natural world and helping connect others to information and resources that help them to do the same. Working for a combination of federal and state agencies and nonprofits across six states, her experience spans biological research, natural resource management, environmental compliance and planning, and outreach and education. In Yellowstone National Park, she served as a member of the wildland fire fuel management projects interdisciplinary team in the role of environmental compliance coordinator. She has a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. Outside of work, Jenni is most likely spending time with family, reading, or exploring the great outdoors.

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