Del Mar Climate Presents
The Health Impacts of Wildfires, Storms, and Extreme Temperatures: Understanding Risks and Taking Action
October 7, 2026 at 6pm
Del Mar Town Hall
Agenda
The Health Impacts of Wildfires, Storms, and Extreme Temperatures: Understanding Risks and Taking Action
Wednesday, October 7, 2026, 6:00pm
Del Mar Town Hall
Please see the City of Del Mar website for information on how you can get to the symposium via public transit.
We are a participant of the San Diego Climate Week.
| Time | Activity | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 - 6:30pm | Reception Light refreshments and exhibitor tables |
|
| 6:30 - 6:50pm | Welcome Kumeyaay Land Acknowledgment Current Climate Update by Ralph Keeling, PhD, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Introduction of Fire Captain Joel Carrington, Panel Moderator |
Carol Kerridge |
| 6:50 - 7:20pm | Understanding and addressing the immediate and long-term health impacts of wildfires and extreme temperatures | Carlos Gould, PhD |
| 7:20 - 7:50pm | Building community readiness to minimize health risks before, during and after wildfires, storms and extreme-temperature events | Fire Chief Bret Davidson, MS |
| 7:50 - 8:20pm | Panel discussion with Carlos Gould and Bret Davidson | Joel Carrington |
| 8:20pm | Closing remarks | Carol Kerridge |
Our Presenters
Ralph Keeling, PhD
Professor of geochemistry in the Geosciences Research Division of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Keeling’s research focuses on atmospheric composition, the carbon cycle, and climate change.
He is the Principal Investigator for the Atmospheric Oxygen Research Group at Scripps and is the director of the Scripps CO2 Program,[2] the measurement program behind the Keeling Curve, which was started by his father Charles David Keeling in 1958
Carlos Gould, PhD
Assistant Professor, University of California, San Diego
Carlos Gould, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the University of California San Diego in the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health. He studies how a changing climate affects human health, quantifying the impacts of environmental exposures—such as air pollution and temperature extremes. His work aims to identify which policies, technologies, and behaviors can build resilience.
BA Yale University - Environmental Studies; PhD Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health - Environmental Health Sciences; Post-doctoral studies Stanford - Earth System Science
Bret Davidson, MA
Fire Chief, Del Mar and Solana Beach
Chief Davidson comes to the Cities of Solana Beach and Del Mar from the City of Vista with 39 years of fire service experience. Born and raised in San Diego County, he began his fire service career in 1986 in Pine Valley. Over the course of his career, he has served with fire departments in El Centro, Poway, and Rancho Santa Fe and previously participated in cooperative regional efforts with the coastal communities.
Chief Davidson holds an Associate of Science in Fire Science, a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Administration and a Master of Arts in Human Resource Management. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in Instructional Design. In addition, Chief Davidson has earned a Public Leadership Credential from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Certificate of Leader Development from the U.S. Army War College.
Joel Carrington
Fire Captain, Del Mar Fire Department
Joel Carrington began his career here in Del Mar in 2008 as a student Firefighter/Paramedic, one year later he was hired full-time as a firefighter/Paramedic. Promoted to Fire Captain in 2020 and is currently a Division Fire Captain and is the President of the Del Mar Firefighters Local Association. Educational background: Associate of Science in Fire Technology, Associate of Occupational Science in Paramedicine.