Prevention and Education

The Prevention and Education Working Team (PEWT) is composed of the wildland fire prevention specialists from the member agencies. It hosts and conducts wildland fire prevention training courses for the agencies and has been developing a Fire Prevention and Education Team (FPET). The team has been deployed on a number of occasions for training and to help out on fire incidents, fire planning, and for insect infestations.

Learn More Contacts
Prevention

Each agency, whether a state or province as full members, or another federal or city agency as associate members, has one seat on the Prevention and Education Working Team. The PEWT reports to the Operations Committee and is responsible to formulate prevention and education work plans and ensure that the work plans are carried out.

They work very closely with the Executive Director to oversee and manage their grant allocations and carry out their business. They are assigned a liaison from the Operations Committee in order to form good communications and guidance from the Operations Committee.

Prevention

The PEWT meets or has a conference call once every quarter in order to coordinate, manage, monitor and conduct their business. The team attends and plays a role in the Annual Winter meeting conducted in January/February. They are responsible for soliciting nominations for an annual Fire Prevention Award and for an Annual Outstanding Service Award, both of which are presented at the Annual Winter Awareness Meeting.

The Working Team also coordinates a spring Forest Fire Prevention Week during the third full week of April and solicits proclamations from the governors and premiers to bring public awareness to the matter. The PEWT also hosts, conducts, and or participates in regional and national fire prevention activities such as the New England Association of Fire Chiefs Fire Exposition, Balloon Festivals to include a Smokey Bear balloon, Wildfire Canada, and Smokey Bear-related events.

Prevention

Additionally, the Prevention and Education Working Team hosts and conducts wildland fire prevention training courses for the agencies and has been developing a Fire Prevention and Education Team (FPET). The team has been deployed on a number of occasions for training and to help out on fire incidents, fire planning, and for insect infestations.

The PEWT maintains a public information website at NortheastWildfire.org.

Contacts

Rick Schenk (CT)

Work Email: richard.schenk@ct.gov
Work Phone: +1 860-295-9523
Work Fax: +1 860-344-2941

Address:
Division of Forestry
Eastern District Headquarters
209 Hebron Ave.
Marlborough, CT 06447
United States

Kevin Harrison (FDNY)

Work Email: kevin.harrison@fdny.nyc.gov
Mobile Phone: +1 845-597-7545

Address:
71 Mount Salem Road
Port Jervis, NY 12771
United States

Kent Nelson (ME)

Work Email: kent.nelson@maine.gov
Work Phone: +1 207-287-4989

Address:
Dept. of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry
Maine Forest Service
18 Elkins Lane, Harlow Bldg, SHS #22
Augusta, ME 04333
United States

Josh D. Nigro (MA)

Work Email: josh.nigro@mass.gov
Work Phone: +1 508-888-1149
Mobile Phone: +1 508-889-4094
Work Fax: +1 508-833-8869

Address:
MA Dept. of Conservation and Recreation
Bureau of Forest Fire Control
Shawme Crowell State Forest, 42 Main St.
Sandwich, MA 02563
United States

Roger Collet (NB)

Past Chair

Work Email: roger.collet@gnb.ca
Work Phone: +1 506-453-8650
Work Fax: +1 506-453-2412

Address:
Dept. of Energy and Resource Development
Forest Fire Management Section
1350 Reqent St.
P.O. Box 6000
Fredericton, NB E3C 2G6
Canada

Nathan Blanchard (NH)

Work Email: nathan.blanchard@dncr.nh.gov
Work Phone: +1 603-419-0354

Address:
Dept. of Natural and Cultural Resources
Division of Forests and Lands
172 Pembroke Road
Concord, NH 03301
United States

Vacant (NH)

Peter Morehouse (NY)

Work Email: peter.morehouse@dec.ny.gov
Work Phone: +1 315-261-2521

Address:
NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Div. of Forest Protection
190 Outer Main St.
Potsdam, NY 13676
United States

Stephanie Pinksen (NL)

Vice Chair

Work Email: stephaniepinksen@gov.nl.ca
Work Phone: +1 709-637-2916
Mobile Phone: +1 709-632-0140
Work Fax: +1 709-637-2403

Address:
Dept. of Fisheries and Land Resources
Forestry and Wildlife Branch
192 Wheeler's Road
P.O. Box 2006
Corner Brook, NL A2H 0J1
Canada

Kara McCurdy (NS)

Work Email: kara.mccurdy@novascotia.ca
Work Phone: +1 902-758-7232
Office Phone: +1 902-758-7230
Work Fax: +1 902-758-3210

Address:
Dept. of Natural Resources
Forest Protection
P.O. Box 130
Shubenacadie Hants CO, NS B0N 2H0
Canada

Susan Rankin (PE)

Work Email: srankin@gov.pe.ca
Work Phone: +1 902-854-7260
Mobile Phone: +1 902-432-0265
Work Fax: +1 902-854-7448

Address:
Dept. of Communities, Land, and Environment
Forests, Fish, and Wildlife Division
40 Hackmatack Road
Wellington Station, PE C0B 2E0
Canada

Stéphane Caron (QC)

Work Email: stcaron@sopfeu.qc.ca
Work Phone: +1 418-871-3341
Work Phone: +1 800-463-3389 ext. 5484
Mobile Phone: +1 418-906-6473
Work Fax: +1 418-874-2627

Address:
SOPFEU
Aéroport International Jean-Lesage
715, 7e rue de l'Aéroport
Québec, QC G2G 2S7
Canada

Allan Waterman (RI)

Work Email: allan.waterman@dem.ri.gov
Work Phone: +1 401-568-2013 ext. 12
Mobile Phone: +1 860-334-5048
Work Fax: +1 401-568-2045

Address:
George Washington Mgt. Area
2185 Putnam Pike
Chepachet, RI 02814
United States

Art Canterbury (USFWS)

Work Email: art_canterbury@fws.gov
Work Phone: +1 413-253-8589
Mobile Phone: +1 413-345-1865
Work Fax: +1 413-253-8451

Address:
Dept. of Environmental Conservation
Forest Protection, Fire Management
625 Broadway Ave., 8th Floor
Albany, NY 12233-2560
United States

Jim Esden (VT)

Work Email: jim.esden@vermont.gov
Work Phone: +1 802-885-8822
Work Fax: +1 802-885-8890

Address:
Dept. of Forests, Parks and Recreation
100 Mineral Street, Suite 304
Springfield, VT 05156-3168
United States

Dave DiSanto (WMNF-GMNF)

Work Email: ddisanto@fs.fed.us
Work Phone: +1 802-362-2307 ext. 211
Work Fax: +1 802-362-1251

Address:
USDA Forest Service
Green Mountain/Finger Lakes National Forest
2538 Depot St.
Manchester Center, VT 05255
United States

Ethan Ready (WMNF-GMNF)

Chair

Work Email: eready@fs.fed.us
Work Phone: +1 802-747-6760
Mobile Phone: +1 802-558-8176

Address:
USDA Forest Service
Green Mountain/Finger Lakes National Forest
2538 Depot St.
Manchester Center, VT 05255
United States