AFAN

Overview

Description

The Advanced Fire Analysis Network (AFAN) is a European expert knowledge-sharing network focused on risk analysis. With a goal to improve European responses to wildfire emergencies, the initiative promotes knowledge sharing and mutual learning to create an operational network based on trust and support. During every fire event, the European fire response systems are exposed to demanding situations that help to understand fires. AFAN works to use these experiences to build on existing regional and national knowledge to improve European wildfire response capacities.

The network was originally based on specific examples of wildfire risk but could be developed to engage with other types of wildfire knowledge across Europe and include actors that are relevant in other phases of the emergency management cycle. AFAN has the potential for replicability to other groups of experts in other risks.

Wildfires are a global problem impacting societies and the environment. In the last 10 years, the wildfire situation has been unprecedented, changing the fire regimes and creating a large amount of uncertainty for emergency responders. The risk of wildfires is increasing across Europe and climate change is escalating the situation.

Regardless of the capacity of some European emergency services to transfer knowledge on wildfire management, extracting the lessons learned and converting them into applicable knowledge for future national or international events is not sufficiently addressed.

Outputs & results

Partner organisations