Readers of FireAviation have probably noticed that we have lately featured fewer-than-usual posts here by Bill Gabbert.
“That’s because I have developed an incurable disease,” says Mr. Gabbert. “I have pancreatic cancer. The symptoms started about September, and the diagnosis came in October. Basically there will be no major changes to either of these websites, but there will be a bit of a transition period that may take us a little while.”
The WildfireToday site was launched in January 2008 and FireAviation followed four years later in 2012. “I have long had a passion for wildland fire,” says Mr. Gabbert, “and it requires continuous learning. I’ve always been a student of wildfire, and I wanted to create a venue for the fire community that encouraged students of wildfire. I am certain that I don’t want that venue squandered. I therefore have decided to give all rights to both websites to the International Association of Wildland Fire. The IAWF shares my values, and my commitment to preserving these two websites and 15 years of collected data, knowledge, and experience gathered from thousands of people who share our passion for wildland fire.”
REGARDING ADVERTISERS: Bill Gabbert wants you to know that we all appreciate your support for the last 15 years. “We couldn’t have done this without the advertisers,” he says. “We value your support over the years and someone with IAWF will be in touch in the near future about our upcoming plans. The intention is that both websites will continue on mostly without interruption. Our goal is that the knowledge accumulated over the years on these two sites will not be abandoned.
“Things progressed a lot faster medically here than what was projected, but we’re doing the best we can.”
FROM THE IAWF:
Since 2008, the voice of Bill Gabbert has powered the insights published on WildfireToday; his journalism and commentary expanded in 2012 to include the FireAviation site. In these publications we have learned of great changes in the wildland fire profession and have explored how wildland fires affected our lives and our communities.
Bill was often the first to inform us of fire tragedies and he helped us face the loss as he led our evolution to a safer, wiser profession. While these publications carry Bill’s voice and vision, it is the community gathered by Bill – the experts and sources who informed him, the readers who gathered around these insights, and the businesses who supported the sites – it’s all of us who define the world of WildfireToday and FireAviation.
Today, we in the International Association of Wildland Fire honor Bill as someone who is key to both the history and the future of the IAWF. In our early days we were shaped by Bill’s insights, while he was working as a fire manager and a leader in IAWF’s cadre of professionals. And we shared parallel values when Bill turned to wildfire and fire aviation journalism. Now, as Bill moves away from journalism, he has asked the IAWF to manage the future of these publications, and IAWF has accepted the honor and challenge to steward both of his websites.
We are committed to serve the audience that Bill’s work has gathered, the mission he serves, the values he helps define. As the IAWF develops a plan that grows from Bill’s work, Ron Steffens will serve as interim editor, with the support and insights from so many – the writers and editors Bill gathered to support the sites, the business sponsors, the IAWF executive director and staff, the IAWF’s Communications Committee and Board, and the many readers.
Just as Bill asked IAWF to accept this challenge, we ask each of you in our professional and fire communities to join with us in keeping Bill’s vision moving forward. Help us to deliver timely, focused news and commentary on wildland fire, prescribed fire, fire use, and fire aviation.
If you’d like to send Bill a personal message, just scan this code with your phone.
