NIST engineer honoured for wildfire research in the United States
Iain Hoey
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Image credit: NIST
U.S. fire researcher awarded for public service impact
Alexander Maranghides of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has received a 2025 Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal for his research into protecting people and buildings from wildfire.
According to NIST, the award recognises 25 years of work investigating destructive fires and producing guidance to help reduce future loss of life and property.
The medals, presented by the nonprofit Partnership for Public Service, honour federal employees whose work improves national outcomes.
The group said around 30 honourees are selected annually from a workforce of two million.
The medals are widely known as the “Sammies”.
Research examined community-level wildfire devastation
NIST explained that Maranghides’ approach to wildfire research involves analysing full-scale incidents in depth, identifying the factors that influenced their impact and documenting actionable guidance.
His recent investigation of the 2018 Camp Fire in California included interviews with emergency responders and high-detail disaster mapping.
The report spanned more than 1,000 pages and included laboratory tests and field analysis.
Key questions included how and why structures failed, how fires spread, and whether warnings reached residents in time to evacuate.
The organisation said these findings form the foundation for improved public safety practices.
Guidance now used by fire-prone communities
Maranghides’ work resulted in two programmes: the Hazard Mitigation Methodology (HMM) and Evacuation and Sheltering Considerations — Assessment, Planning, and Execution (ESCAPE).
HMM gives advice on structure protection, including how to prevent embers from entering homes and how to safely store combustible materials.
ESCAPE provides tools for emergency planning, with guidance on how to prepare evacuation routes and temporary refuge areas.
NIST said both systems were developed through community engagement and are now being adopted in locations at high risk of wildfire.
Maranghides said: “Those two programs are the most important work I’ve done over my career.”
Award celebrates collaborative fire safety efforts
Joannie Chin, Director of NIST’s Engineering Laboratory, said: “For more than two decades, Alex has demonstrated an unmatched ability to identify the most important lessons from wildfires.
“He then uses a variety of tools to convey these lessons to state and local officials in ways that they can understand the problem and develop solutions tailored to protect their communities.”
NIST added that the award reflects the broader contribution of federal agencies to disaster risk reduction.
The institute supports efforts across multiple hazards, including hurricanes, earthquakes and tornadoes.
In 2024, NIST researchers Marc Levitan and Long Phan were honoured with the same award for their work on tornado-resistant building codes.
Selection committee reflects cross-sector recognition
According to the Partnership for Public Service, the award selection committee includes figures from government, media, academia and the private sector.
The awards are named after Samuel J. Heyman, a businessman who supported the advancement of public service.
The partnership described the medals as recognition for public servants making the United States “better, safer, and stronger”.
Full details of the awards and recipients can be found on the Service to America website.
NIST engineer honoured for wildfire research in the United States: Summary
Alexander Maranghides of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been named a 2025 recipient of the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal.
The award was announced by the Partnership for Public Service.
It recognises Maranghides’ 25-year career investigating major U.S. wildfires and creating guidance to improve building and evacuation safety.
His most recent research focused on the 2018 Camp Fire in California.
The resulting report exceeded 1,000 pages and included field investigations, laboratory testing and firefighter interviews.
Maranghides’ work has led to two public safety programmes: HMM and ESCAPE.
These programmes provide detailed advice for community wildfire protection and emergency planning.
The initiatives are being adopted in U.S. regions with high wildfire risk.
NIST Director Joannie Chin praised Maranghides’ ability to translate research into practical guidance.
The Service to America Medal is awarded annually to around 30 federal employees.
Honourees are selected by a committee of leaders across multiple sectors.
