Intern Spotlight: Rayne Clarke’s Path to Fire Engineering

Tell us about yourself.

I’m a mechanical engineering student at the University of Michigan (Go Blue!). I’m conducting fire science and modeling research in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department with Professor Jeffers. I was born and raised in New York City, but I’m spending my summer in Los Angeles while working in SGH’s Fire Engineering division, with a focus on the wildland-urban interface (WUI).

How was your first day at SGH?

My first day of work was a bit of a spectacle. I showed up to the LA office at 8:57 a.m., covered in dirt, bleeding from my palms and knees, wearing torn pants and a grimace. On my way to the office, I tripped as I was running to catch a bus and took the hardest fall of my life. My phone was shattered and my glasses were nowhere in sight. But once I dusted myself off and had a good laugh, I recalled that things rarely go as planned, and it’s important to learn how to handle new challenges as they come. Adaptability, especially with limited resources, is a skill worth every stumble.

What have you learned during your time at SGH?

Over the past few months, I’ve learned what effective collaboration really looks like. No one has all the answers, and solving complex problems takes a team of people with different areas of expertise. What stands out most is how naturally people here share ideas and build on each other’s insights. I love seeing how people are eager to talk to each other and bounce ideas back and forth. It feels organic and genuine, rather than a performative attempt to display a certain kind of corporate culture. The culture of teamwork and shared purpose has made a lasting impression on me, and it’s something I’ll carry forward in every professional setting.

How would you describe your coworkers?

One of the first things I noticed at SGH was the diversity within the office, including not just appearances, but also backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking. In engineering, diverse perspectives matter. They shape how we approach challenges, influence how we interpret problems, and ultimately help us develop more innovative, effective solutions, especially in complex or unique situations.

What advice would you give to future interns?

If I had one piece of advice for future interns, it would be to read, listen, and ask questions. There’s always going to be a lot you don’t know. Don’t just think about your next response—really listen. That approach has helped me learn from all sorts of experts in specialized areas.

This summer has helped me think more about what I want for the future. This internship has clarified not only what I enjoy doing, but also what I don’t. And honestly, that’s just as important. It’s hard to make thoughtful decisions without the lived experiences. What’s especially motivating is seeing how many different paths exist within fire science and the engineering profession in general. There’s still so much we don’t know, and that’s part of what makes this work so exciting.