As urban wildfires increase in frequency, intensity, and impact, structural engineers are facing a growing need for practical guidance on designing buildings that can better withstand fire exposure. To help address this challenge, NCSEA and the Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC) are presenting a six-part educational series: Structural Engineering for Urban Wildfire Mitigation.
While the profession has well-established design approaches for hazards such as earthquakes, wind, and snow, comparable guidance for wildfire-resistant structural design is still emerging. This series is designed to help close that gap by providing structural engineers with practical design considerations, current research, and recommended approaches for evaluating and mitigating wildfire effects on structures.
The series brings together leading practicing engineers and researchers in structural fire engineering and wildfire mitigation. Topics will address fire exposure mechanisms, structural performance under fire conditions, post-fire evaluation, and strategies for improving resilience through design and detailing.
Each webinar is 60 minutes (1 PDH each) and will be held from 12:00–1:00 p.m. CT.
Schedule of Events
March 24, 2026
Design Mitigations for Fire
Erica Fischer, Ph.D., P.E.
This session explores evidence-based mitigation strategies at the building, parcel, and community scales. Drawing from recent wildfire events, including the 2025 Los Angeles Fires and the 2021 Marshall Fire, the presentation will examine what worked, what failed, and why—providing practical strategies to reduce wildfire vulnerability and improve resilience.
March 31, 2026
Reconnaissance and Resilience: The 2025 Los Angeles Fires
Emily Frazier, P.E., and Khalid Saifullah, Ph.D.
This webinar presents findings from post-fire reconnaissance efforts led by SEAOSC volunteers following the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. The session will highlight key lessons learned and discuss implications for structural design, emergency response, and long-term community resilience.
April 7, 2026
Post-Fire Foundation Assessments: Practical Guidelines & Heat Transfer Analysis
Garrett Mills, S.E., and Samantha Eng, P.E.
Focused on foundations exposed to wildfire, this presentation reviews practical methodologies for post-fire damage assessments, including visual inspection, non-destructive testing, material sampling, and heat transfer analysis to support informed reuse and repair decisions.
April 14, 2026
Fire Engineering of Mass Timber Structures
Parisa Nassiri, P.E.
This session provides a practical introduction to fire-resistant design of mass timber structures, covering performance-based approaches, detailing considerations, and lessons learned from completed projects.
April 21, 2026
On the Fire Line: Structures Pushed to the Extreme in the Wildland-Urban Interface
Jon Glassman, Ph.D., P.E., CRE, CSQE
Drawing on field experience from major wildfire events and current structural fire research, this webinar examines how extreme fire conditions affect buildings and critical infrastructure, including bridges, and what that means for resilient design.
April 28, 2026
Fire Engineering of Steel Structures
Michael Drury, Ph.D., P.E.
This presentation outlines structural considerations for steel structures exposed to fire, including elevated temperature behavior, load effects, fire protection strategies, and available tools that support structural fire engineering in practice.
Registration
The registration fee for the full six-part series is $595 for NCSEA members and $995 for nonmembers, and includes access to all six hours of education and one year of recording access. Individual webinars may be purchased separately for $250 for members and $300 for nonmembers.
Each purchase is per office location. Firms operating remotely are encouraged to review the Webinar FAQs for guidance on accommodating multiple users. Please note: This series is not included in the NCSEA Webinar Subscription.
For more information and to register, click here.
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