More homes are burning in wildfires in nearly every Western state. The reason? Humans.
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Articles on California wildfires
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Not all forests respond to hotter and drier conditions in the same way.
Without enough water, trees can develop embolisms, similar to blockages in human blood vessels, and they’re more likely to die from drought or fires.
Drought conditions are so bad, fish hatcheries are trucking their salmon to the ocean and ranchers are worried about having enough water for their livestock.
While climate change is certain, some uncertainty remains in its severity — and that’s where the hope shines through.
Restoring western forests – thinning out small trees and dead wood – is an important strategy for reducing the risk of massive wildfires. But these projects aren’t fast, easy or cheap.
My research focuses on how to support children with a parent who must travel afar for work. Strategies that boost understanding and maintain connection with the absent parent build resilience.
It’s comforting to blame California’s wildfires on human stupidity. But this hides a very uncomfortable truth.
How climate change and other human actions have combined to create conditions for explosive wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington state.
California’s bushfire disaster is eerily reminiscent of Australia’s Black Summer. We share the same fiery fate, and must learn to adapt.
Customers, cities and investors are all eager for a piece of PG&E, but it isn’t the only US utility that may have new owners soon.
Emergency responders and military personnel need to think creatively – even imaginatively – to save lives under pressure. Analyzing the Grenfell Tower Fire in London reveals useful lessons.
The Earth may be entering an era in which natural and human-generated fire together are reshaping the planet.
Instead of suppressing wildfire, the Karuk Tribe in the Pacific Northwest is using it as an integral part of its climate change management plan. Federal, state and local agencies are taking note.
Decades of wildfire suppression have allowed flammable fuels to pile up in US forests. Scientists and managers say careful use of planned fires can reduce risks of large, out-of-control burns.
Donald Trump has threatened to use funds allocated for disaster relief to fund his border wall. It’s time to rethink how we frame disasters to stop politicians from using them for political gain.
With the dire consequences of climate change looming, archaeologists recognize the importance of communicating their findings on ancient landscapes and the threats that face vulnerable populations.
Forest management is not a cure-all for wildfires, although it can help reduce the chances of massive burns. Making this happen will require broad collaborative efforts and more money.
We need to learn to coexist with wildfires the way many ecosystems do. We won’t protect lives in the long term by trying to stamp the fires out.
Canada’s boreal region faces bigger, hotter and more frequent wildfires that are increasingly unpredictable, but it lacks an investment in fire science that could help keep communities safe.
Top contributors
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Sr. Associate Vice President for Research and Research Professor, University of Oregon
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Associate Professor of Forest and Natural Resource Policy, Colorado State University
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Emeritus professor, University of Wollongong
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Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, University of Tasmania
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Director of the Centre for Critical and Major Incident Psychology, University of Liverpool
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Emeritus Professor of Life Sciences, Arizona State University
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Distinguished Professor of Engineering, University of California, Merced
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Professor of Political Science and Co-Director Environmental Governance Lab, University of Toronto
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Director of Energy Studies, University of Florida
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PhD Candidate in Political Science and International Relations, Queen's University, Ontario
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Associate Professor of Anthropology, McMaster University
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Fellow, Queen's Institute for Energy and Environmental Policy, School of Policy Studies, Queen's University, Ontario
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Assistant Research Professor and Director, Institute for a Sustainable Environment, University of Oregon
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Senior Lecturer in Media and Communications, University of Westminster
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Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine
