Kris Johnson

Fire Operations Extension Specialist

Kris Johnson joined the Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada (FERIC) team as a fire operations extension specialist in early January 2003. His appointment as a fire behaviourist working with the Fire & Forest Ecosystems unit of Saskatchewan Forest Centre (SFC) realizes the first Wildland Fire Operations Research Group position based in that province.

Kris came to the Forest Engineering Research Institute of Canada (FERIC) from the British Columbia Forest Service (BCFS) where he worked for eleven years in the Wildfire Protection Program. His fire experience has been developed through his extensive work in BC, and his deployments in Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, the Maritimes and the Yukon Territory. His educational background includes a B.A. from Simon Fraser University and Science Diploma from Selkirk College. He 'fell' into the world of forest fire fighting due to his great love of the outdoors and his involvement in a running team that was made up mostly of foresters. Starting as a member of a three person Helitack crew, Kris has gone on to gain experience in virtually all facets of wildland fire operations. His areas of interest include fire behaviour, community protection, wildfire prevention, education and training.

He sees himself as a 'conduit' for fire research information between government, industry, and the public. He looks forward to the opportunity to combine his fire behaviour knowledge and operational experience to aid in the transfer of new technologies, ideas, methods, and academic findings to those responsible for protection of the provincial forest resources.

E-mail: Kris Johnson

Phone: (306) 765-2862