The Spokane Wildfire Academic Consortium exists to support the Spokane region’s recovery from the August 2026 wildfires by coordinating interdisciplinary academic, public health, and community expertise to advance wildfire-related research, inform evidence-based decision making, support public communication, and strengthen community resilience in the wake of the Spokane wildfires.
The Consortium has two primary objectives:
- Serve as a trusted, nonpartisan convener and source of evidence-based research and guidance for communities, practitioners, and policymakers.
- Assist with the identification of priority research questions and coordination of data collection efforts.
Leadership
- Chair: Dr. Sarah Bliss Matousek, Ph.D., MPH
- Vice-Chair: Dr. Tania Busch Isaksen, Ph.D., MPH
- Vice-Chair: Dr. Brian G. Henning, Ph.D.
Contact: WildfireConsortium@gonzaga.edu
Founding members
- Gonzaga Center for Health Impact
- Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment
- University of Washington Center for Disaster Resilient Communities
Resources
Research
If you are an academic researcher considering conducting research related to the August 2026 Spokane wildfires, contact us at WildfireConsortium@gonzaga.edu.
Data collection
The Consortium is facilitating with several different forms of data collection to help understand the impacts of the Spokane Complex Fires and the recovery process.
Read more about data collection efforts.
Visit the Consortium's research repository: repository.gonzaga.edu/WildfireConsortium
Email list
To join the Spokane Wildfire Academic Consortium email list:
- Go to http://lists.gonzaga.edu
- Add your name and email address
- Select Spokane Wildfire Academic Consortium from the dropdown list.
- Click “Subscribe”.
Last updated: Tuesday, September 1, 2026