Breaking News: Wildfires

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A critical project to help with the early detection and monitoring of wildfires in Oregon received $4.5 million in support from the state Legislature during the 2022 short session. University of Oregon Earth Sciences Professor Douglas Toomey is a key leader of the partnership behind the ALERTWildfire camera network system, which is being rolled out across Oregon, Nevada, California, Washington, and Idaho. Toomey directs the Oregon Hazards Lab (OHAZ) at the University of Oregon.

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New analysis confirms a palpable change in fire dynamics already suspected by many.

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Volatile compounds in wildfire smoke are absorbed by grapes and produce an unpleasant taste called “smoke taint” in wines. A new study provides valuable data and guidelines for using analytical chemistry to identify grapes and wines affected by smoke taint.

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Wildfires destroy and alter carbon in forests. The remaining carbon can be difficult for many organisms to consume. New research shows that one type of fungi thrives after wildfires because it has genes that allow it to feed on carbon altered by fires. The research helps to explain how carbon returns to the food web after a fire.

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Two Clemson University civil engineers said their newly published research is the most comprehensive analysis so far of what causes flash drought, a weather phenomenon that has been blamed for billions of dollars in crop damage and increased wildfire risk.

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The West sees destructive wildfires every year—yet it hadn’t seen anything like the Camp Fire. Three months after the most destructive wildfire in recent history, wildfire sociologist Catrin Edgeley went to the devastated town of Paradise to learn how residents and town leaders were recovering. Edgeley wanted to know how lessons learned in one disaster could be individualized and applied to other fires—lessons that are increasingly important in Arizona as climate change leads to longer, more severe fire seasons.

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Large wildfires and severe heat events are happening more often at the same time, worsening air pollution across the western United States, a study led by Washington State University researchers has found.

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PNNL researchers uncover the mechanics behind dwindling Arctic sea ice and its influence on wildfire weather in the western United States.

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Multiple large heatwaves the size of Mongolia occurred at the same time nearly every day during the warm seasons of the 2010s across the Northern Hemisphere, according to a study led by Washington State University researchers.

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Clearing California’s forests of dense overgrowth is a critical first step for curbing catastrophic wildfire in the state. But forest restoration

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A virtual reality exercise undertaken in Australia with people living in high fire-risk zones has revealed some harsh truths: most people are not prepared for a serious bushfire and many would make fatal errors that could cost them their life.

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Climate change is fueling more floods, droughts, wildfires, and extreme storms across the United States. As a result, aging power grids are being pushed beyond their limits, sometimes with deadly impacts. (In 2020, a series of unusual winter storms knocked the power out in Texas for days -- leading to shortages of water and heat and more than 100 deaths.)

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Fire restrictions vary by state. In West Virginia, the fall fire season runs from Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 while the spring fire season goes from March 1 to May 31.

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Two UNC students pick up their violin bows and practice fast passages and rhythms whenever they can. But playing an instrument isn't the only intense activity taking up their spare time. Alongside playing beautiful music, Taber Land and Katherine Muser also help battle raging fires that span hundreds of acres at a time.