Joaquin Rafael Pastrana

Joaquin Pastrana is a Staff Research Associate for the UCANR’s Fire Network and serves Placer and Nevada Counties. He works with Fire Network members and other key partners to assist California residents with feeling more confident in their ability to implement and complete effective fuels management and fire resiliency projects on their property. Locally, he provides science-based educational materials about wildfire preparedness and vegetation management, as well as workshops designed to further develop hands-on skills. His goal is to assist in bridging the gap between research and real-world application and empower landowners to take a proactive role in their communities' mitigation efforts as they contribute to the larger goals of landscape-scale fire resilience.

Joaquin is an ever-learning student of fire and is passionate about the intersection of public health and fire-adapted communities. He earned a degree in Public Health from UC Merced. His professional background includes serving as a Prescribed Fire Program Manager for the Nevada County Resource Conservation District, a Prescribed Fire Apprentice with Fire Forward, and a Burn Crew Member with The Nature Conservancy. Joaquin began his career in fire as a GrizzlyCorps member with the Yolo County Resource Conservation District, where he played a key part in establishing the county’s first Prescribed Burn Association.