Articles tagged with Wildfires
The editorial highlights the need for disaster preparedness tailored to older adults' unique circumstances, including chronic health conditions and social supports. It suggests interventions that integrate disaster planning into routine clinical care and build organizational capacity in assisted living communities and nursing homes.
The Southern California Environmental Health Sciences Center will continue to support research on air pollution, PFAS, and environmental health effects. The new grant will enable the center to expand its research programs and support junior investigators.
A UH study of 1,400 Maui adults found substantially elevated concentrations of metals in urine, associated with abnormal lung function. The study revealed complex exposure pathways, including those introduced by the wildfire and existing environmental factors.
A University of Arizona study found that one in three residents who drank contaminated water still report symptoms of post-traumatic stress. The researchers surveyed 363 people and found that 34% reported symptoms, including worry about contamination and sleeping badly.
A new study projects that children born in 2025 will live through more than three additional years of extreme fire weather compared to those born in 1950, mainly due to climate change. Limiting warming to 1.5°C could reduce lifetime exposure by more than a year, giving them a chance at a full and healthier life.
A US study found that affluent neighborhoods are at higher risk of fire, but tend to recover faster, with 78% of severely burned areas failing to return to pre-fire temperatures within five years. Higher-income areas also experienced smaller losses in vegetation and recovered temperatures more quickly.
The study aims to identify the combined effects of wildfire smoke and extreme heat on pregnancy, with a focus on vulnerable groups. Exposure to these hazards has been linked to preterm birth, low birthweight, and serious pregnancy complications, with marginalized communities disproportionately affected.
A team of 22 investigators from UC Davis aims to understand the short- and long-term effects of wildfire smoke exposure on human health. The study will investigate immune and epigenetic pathways and identify biomarkers of risk to develop prevention strategies and new treatments.
Researchers will develop AI-powered tools to examine cascading wildfire impacts, including flash floods, debris flows, and infrastructure disruptions. The project aims to bolster public safety and community resilience by combining AI, infrastructure modeling, and social science.
Extreme weather events like drought, flooding, and wildfires alter soil carbon inputs, microbial processes, and sequestration, with repeated drought leading to declining soil organic carbon. The review highlights the importance of protecting soil carbon for climate mitigation and sustainable agricultural productivity.
Leading scientists warn of unaccounted climate feedback loops that could amplify global warming by 20–30% this century, with natural systems amplifying warming-induced emissions. Cutting emissions can reduce these risks and limit the severity of feedbacks.
A new study by Concordia researchers reveals that exposure to wildfire smoke during larval development causes higher rates of wing deformities in spruce budworm and forest tent caterpillar moths. The moths also become heavier, a result that may reflect higher mortality among smaller, weaker individuals.
A new study proposes that wildfires and erosion in the southern Levant may have inspired Neolithic communities to discover pottery-making. The study suggests that observing naturally baked clay during intense fires led to the development of ceramics.
A new study finds that rain falling through wildfire smoke can deliver unusually large bursts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to ecosystems in the United States. The nutrient pulses could become an increasingly important ecological consequence of fire as wildfires become more frequent.
Scientists warn that Canada's boreal forests absorb enough heat to offset 6-20% of their climate benefit, due to their dark surface reflecting winter sunlight. Mixed forests with deciduous trees and moderate densities outperform dense evergreen monocultures in delivering climate cooling.
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has developed a new framework for early detection of wildfires with real-time modeling, synthesizing various datasets and remote sensing capabilities. This tool helps emergency officials make life-saving decisions about wildfire prevention and mitigation.
After wildfires near the California Coast, human and animal fecal bacteria from urban and wildland areas have been found in coastal waters. This has been confirmed through a twenty-year investigation, highlighting the impact of wildfires on coastal ecosystems.
A scoping review found that wildfires in regions with mining, agricultural, or urbanized areas often lead to arsenic contamination in drinking water. The study highlights the need for monitoring and mitigation strategies to protect water resources.
Climate researchers have discovered a significant increase in neighborhood-level hurricane warnings, widespread wildfires in the US, and unprecedented changes in Earth's energy budget. These findings suggest that greenhouse gases are driving these trends, with smoke and fire-related carbon emissions rising due to increased aridity.
A PSU study finds that historically underinvested neighborhoods with lower median incomes and higher racial diversity are most vulnerable to multiple climate hazards. These areas, including East Portland, face the highest risk from landslides, wildfires, flooding, and extreme heat.
North Americans breathed unhealthy air for nearly 106 million person-days as Ontario wildfires exposed people on both sides of the border. Canada's slow fire season intensified within weeks, with Toronto recording the poorest air quality in the world.
A study by Colorado State University and others found that fast-moving forest fires burn more area severely, leaving fewer trees to reseed the landscape. This can lead to long-term ecological change rather than recovery.
The Western Fire & Forest Resilience Collaborative will adapt its research tools for grasslands and shrublands, focusing on west Texas, to better protect ecosystems and communities. The collaboration aims to quantify the impact of wildfires on water resources in Colorado and inform land management decisions.
The 36th annual State of the Climate report reveals record highs in greenhouse gas concentrations, global sea level, and ocean heat content. Greenhouse gas concentrations reached a 53% increase from preindustrial levels, with fossil fuel emissions reaching a record high in 2025.
A recent study found that rewetting severely burned peatlands can dramatically reduce methane emissions, making these areas prime candidates for accelerated restoration. Severe fires alter the peat's chemical composition, reducing methane production and increasing carbon storage.
The study reveals a sharp increase in biomass losses due to climate change-related events, with Central European forests being particularly impacted. The findings raise concerns about the European Union's ability to meet its climate goals, highlighting the need for adapted forest management practices.
The study argues that managing wildfires requires integrated risk governance systems spanning prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. CMCC researchers identify the need for cooperation and coordination across sectors and governance levels to build resilience to climate-driven wildfire risk in Europe.
A new USC study found that LA County residents in evacuation zones experienced heightened levels of anxiety and depression after the 2025 wildfires. The effects were greatest among those facing social and economic hardship, highlighting the need for policies to bolster housing security and community support networks.
Most of the carbon released during Canada’s record 2023 wildfire season came from burning soil and peat. Underground carbon stores accounted for 76 per cent of wildfire emissions. The findings highlight the vulnerability of Canada’s soil carbon stores to intensifying wildfires.
A study of 997,701 ED visits in Alberta and Ontario found a significant association between wildfire-sourced PM2.5 and a 6% increase in ED visits for migraine and primary headache syndromes. Associations were attenuated in less deprived areas, suggesting that wildfire-sourced PM2.5 may trigger severe headache episodes requiring ED care.
Researchers traced fire origins using network analysis of satellite observations, finding large fires often started from multiple locations. The study highlights the role of environmental conditions in determining where fires originate, which may challenge previous understanding of tropical forests' resilience.
A new study from the University of Washington highlights the potential consequences of losing roadless protections on rivers and drinking water supply. The study found that over 80,000 miles of rivers receive some protection from the rule, reaching 25 million people across the country.
The WVU team developed an AI framework that allows satellites to not only detect wildfires but also coordinate with one another and adjust their observation schedules as fires spread. This enables firefighters to respond sooner, taking into account the rapid movement of wildfires, dense vegetation, and hills.
A new study confirms aspen trees can act as a fire barrier, with larger stands linked to lower fire severity. The research used remote-sensing data to create maps of forest stand disturbances, highlighting the importance of retaining aspen for biodiversity and fire prevention.
New research from University of Georgia finds that prescribed burns are a significant source of fine particle pollution, affecting nearby communities. The study analyzed state burn permit records and found that Georgia experiences the highest population exposure to fine particle pollution, with over 40 smoke-impacted days annually.
A new study reveals gaps in wildfire smoke education among people living with COPD. Researchers found that many individuals rely on smartphone apps and online information for air quality updates, but lack knowledge on mitigation strategies and real-time guidance from healthcare teams.
Researchers found that forest fires now burn ten times more acreage annually than in 1985, with severe fires causing widespread tree death. The study attributed the changes to an increasingly warm and arid environment, as well as high fuel density in forests.
A study found wide variation in contamination by lead and arsenic in soil and ash from California homes burned by the Eaton and Palisades wildfires. Cleanup efforts reduced concentrations of these contaminants, but the study highlights a need for technical review and more effective cleanup methods.
The California FAIR Plan, a state-mandated backstop, has seen its footprint grow as average homeowner insurance premiums rose 84% between 2020 and 2026. The plan now covers about 5% of single-family homes, backing approximately 6% of new mortgage originations.
New studies reveal potential for 30-day forecast accuracy boosts using machine learning and explore the impact of vegetation on ocean currents during the Little Ice Age. Researchers also find that La Niña events can slow global warming by amplifying each other's cooling effects.
A Stanford-led study suggests that burning 500,000 acres of California conifer forests each year with prescribed fire could cut deadly pollution from wildfire smoke by roughly 10% over a decade. The risk of very severe fires immediately drops 92% in areas burned in low-severity fires, with risks remaining lower for up to a decade and e...
Researchers from Virginia Tech found that airborne particles have an outer alkaline shell, contradicting the traditional view of uniform droplets. This discovery has significant implications for understanding air quality and climate change.
Researchers find that climate change is weakening the ability of snow cover over burn scars to offset forest fire carbon emissions. Historically, this natural process helped cool the climate after northern wildfires.
Global wildfire activity in 2025 resulted in destructive and deadly fire events, with 335 million hectares burned globally - 16% below the long-term average. The fires accounted for 38% of all insured natural hazard losses, with Canada experiencing its third consecutive year of extreme fire activity.
Researchers at OSU found that taller buildings and those with flammable exterior materials produce more embers, which can cause 90% of structure losses. The study aimed to predict how fires will spread and design resilient buildings against wildfires.
A new study reveals that dark brown carbon from wildfires has a powerful warming effect on the global climate, potentially exceeding that of black carbon. The research found that this 'dark brown carbon' absorbs light well into the visible spectrum, amplifying regional and global warming.
Research reveals US forests face significant risk of carbon loss due to wildfires, droughts, and insects. Current carbon-credit systems fail to account for these risks, but the study provides a solution by proposing larger buffer pools to mitigate losses.
A study finds that US forests are at risk of releasing stored carbon due to droughts, pests, and fires exacerbated by climate change. The researchers recommend increasing buffer pools in carbon-credit systems to account for these risks.
Recent studies investigate the relationship between weather conditions and extreme events like heat-related mortality, tropical cyclone hazards, and changes in precipitation patterns. Researchers also explore new modeling methods to predict visually appealing atmospheric phenomena like 'ornamental twilight'.
Research team assembled record of fire activity in Rwenzori Mountains dating back thousands of years. The 2012 wildfire was the first large-scale blaze in the highest elevations in at least 12,000 years.
A new study by researchers at Oregon State University suggests that restoring landscapes shaped by frequent low-intensity fire does not conflict with spotted owl conservation. The study identified areas suitable for spotted owl nesting and roosting that are more likely to persist through fire, providing insights for land managers to pl...
A new review paper warns that wildfire smoke's health risks remain poorly understood due to a lack of direct biomedical evidence. The study argues that most current research relies on population-level correlations rather than detailed biomedical analysis.
A study found that megafires force prairie grouse into sub-optimal habitats, including smaller patches near cropland. This can lead to reduced persistence and habitat quality for the species.
Researchers developed a new method to predict debris flows in post-fire landscapes, incorporating vegetation recovery, which reduces unnecessary warnings and improves accuracy. The updated method reflects changes in soil absorption and plant water uptake after wildfires, providing more accurate hazard maps and rainfall threshold guidance.
A new study reveals that wildfires in the Western US have decreased by 28% over the past three decades, with fires starting from natural causes declining more than those caused by humans. The findings suggest that higher population densities lead to fewer fires, while adding people to less populated areas makes blazes more common.
New research from the University of Waterloo shows that social media posts can speed up wildfire response but also trigger costly over-reaction. The study analyzed Twitter data on California wildfires and found that while emotional posts can amplify urgency, they also distort resource allocation.
A study found that long-term exposure to wildfire smoke was significantly associated with an increased risk of developing lung, colorectal, breast, bladder, and blood cancer. The risk increased with every additional microgram per cubic meter of fine particulate matter in the air.
A new study reveals that natural disasters lead to a 69% spike in public protests across Latin America. Smaller communities tend to face the longest economic recoveries, with damage persisting for up to four months.
A new study by PSU researchers found that wildfires can intensify midwinter rain-on-snow events, leading to rapid snowmelt and increased flood risk. This threatens the region's critical seasonal water storage, refilling reservoirs and producing hydroelectric power.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin developed an electronic tattoo to track moisture levels in plant leaves with greater accuracy. The technology uses graphene and can measure hydration levels directly from live leaves, providing more information on plant ecosystem health.