Kara McCurdy

Kara McCurdy

Wildland Urban Interface Specialist/Forest Technician

Strategic leader in wildfire mitigation and prevention with 30+ years of experience in emergency management, natural resources, and interagency collaboration across municipal, provincial, and national levels. Recognized nationally for advancing FireSmart programming, incident response frameworks, and public education initiatives. Proven expertise in policy development, wildfire investigations, and Indigenous engagement. Award-winning communicator and trusted advisor with experience leading complex mitigation initiatives, managing high-risk operations, and shaping national prevention strategies.

Current Responsibilities

Emergency Management
Wildfire Resiliency
Emergency Services

Years of Experience

35+

Location

Nova Scotia

Qualifications

Certified Level 1 Structural Firefighter

FireSmart Coordinator/Instructor

Facilitative Instructor

Dalhousie Certificate in Fire Service Leadership

Wildland Urban Interface Instructor

Professional Designations

Forest Technologist
S591 Wildfire Behaviour Specialist
FI210 Wildfire Investigator
ICS 400
S403 Public Information Officer
Instructor
Advanced Drone Pilot
Photographer

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS AND RECOVERY KNOWLEDGE

  • 33 years Volunteer firefighter (14 Deputy Chief)
  • 30 years in Wildfire Incident and management
  • Assisted British Columbia in wildfire investigations including Lytton in 2021
  • Part of an Incident Management Team in NorthWest Territories as a Wildfire Behaviour Specialist
  • Division Supervisor in Peace River in 2013 wildfire efforts
  • Member of Joint Emergency Management Team, Search and Rescue and NS Guard

PROFESSIONAL ADVENTURES

  • Data Driven development of statistics, strategies, policies, acts and regulations
  • 100 community Wildfire risk assessments and plans that empowered community action, culturally driven and collaboration on mitigation efforts with a multi vision lens for forestry, wildlife, recreational and all hazard mitigation.
  • Communication planning and fire prevention education team lead
  • Client Focused, forward thinking engagement with key stakeholders in wildfire initiatives

Achievements

  • Wildfire Management Standing Ovation 2019
  • Wildfire Prevention Award NFFPC – 2021
  • Lynn Orstad Award 2024