Evacuating under dire wildfire scenarios
In 2018, the Camp Fire ripped through the town of Paradise, California at an unprecedented rate. Officials had prepared an evacuation plan that required 3 hours to get residents to safety. The fire, bigger and faster than ever before, spread to the c.....»»
Native American knowledge, and now AI, can teach us to build wildfire resilience
For centuries, Native American tribes used cultural and controlled burns to nurture healthy ecosystems. These deliberate, low-intensity fires helped maintain ecological balance in the region by reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfires, promoting b.....»»
Can AC protect against wildfire smoke?
As climate change increases the severity and frequency of wildfires in North America, experts say many Americans are at risk of experiencing one in their lifetime. But even more may be affected by the unhealthy air quality from the smoke the fires pr.....»»
Shutting off power to reduce wildfire risk on windy days isn"t a simple decision, expert says
Maui County is suing Hawaiian Electric, claiming the utility was negligent for not shutting off power as strong winds hit the island in the hours before the city of Lahaina burned. While the cause of the devastating Aug. 8, 2023, wildfire is still un.....»»
California deploys AI-powered wildfire detection systems
New system scans over 1,000 cameras for signs of smoke—with 77 hits so far. Enlarge (credit: Getty Images) California's main firefighting agency, Cal Fire, is training AI models to detect visual signs of wildfires usin.....»»
Towns could save themselves from wildfire—if they knew about this money
Last year, Don Pratt fled from his home as a wildfire swept down the mountainside here in Washington's Cascade Range......»»
More western Canada wildfire evacuees to be allowed back home
More wildfire evacuees in western Canada will be allowed on Wednesday to trickle back home, after rain and cool temperatures helped firefighters beat back blazes, officials said......»»
The Impossible Fight to Stop Canada’s Wildfires
Canada’s worst wildfire season ever has put unprecedented strain on the country’s firefighters. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced, with millions more choking on toxic wildfire smoke. Next summer could be far worse......»»
Living with wildfire: How to protect more homes as fire risk rises in a warming climate
Humans have learned to fear wildfire. It can destroy communities, torch pristine forests and choke even faraway cities with toxic smoke......»»
NIST issues new guidance for emergency response during wildfires
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released a pair of reports that provide guidance for strengthening wildfire preparedness across the United States, including specific actions that communities can take to save lives when t.....»»
As wildfires multiply, a new era of air pollution
From Quebec to British Columbia to Hawaii, North America is facing an extraordinary wildfire season—and regions both near and far have found themselves increasingly blighted by smoke exposure......»»
People drive more slowly than usual during wildfire evacuations, study finds
During extensive wildfires, residents may need to evacuate to stay safe, but knowing when to leave is sometimes unclear. A new study from Lund University in Sweden, among others, shows that people fleeing their homes drive more slowly than usual, des.....»»
Seattle air quality among worst in world due to wildfire smoke
Seattle ranked as the worst city worldwide for air quality and pollution Sunday evening as wildfire smoke coated the region......»»
Two dead as Greece battles growing wildfire front
Greece on Tuesday was battling a growing wildfire front that killed two and forced widespread evacuations in the second deadly wave of fires in a month......»»
Canada wildfires: Trudeau criticises Facebook over news ban amid crisis
The prime minister accuses the company of putting profits over safety amid Canada's wildfire crisis......»»
Water managers warn that stretches of the Rio Grande will dry up without more rain
The ongoing lack of rain and hot conditions have left one of North America's longest rivers in dire shape again, prompting water managers on Thursday to warn farmers in central New Mexico who depend on the Rio Grande that supplies will be drying up i.....»»
Invasive firestarter: How non-native grasses turned Hawaii into a tinderbox
After a catastrophic wildfire that killed more than 100 people in Hawaii, eyes have turned toward an unexpected culprit: invasive grass species that have spread massively over the archipelago for decades, serving as the perfect fuel......»»
Creating a disaster preparedness plan for your pets
Recently, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced a wildfire disaster declaration for about 75% of the state's counties and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration also released an updated hurricane season outlook that includes a 70% chance of 1.....»»
Without climate action, property values will take a hit from escalating wildfire risk and tree mortality, study finds
Earth's rapidly changing climate is taking an increasingly heavy toll on landscapes around the world in the form of floods, rising sea levels, extreme weather, drought and wildfire......»»
Microplastics are adsorbing zinc oxide from sunscreens and microbeads from cleansers
A new study by a research team from Diamond Light Source looks at how microplastics wastes may interact with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterials in freshwater and seawater scenarios. It also evaluated, a ZnO-based sunscreen and an exfoliating cleanser wit.....»»
Spain"s Canary Isles battle "most complex fire" in 40 years
The huge wildfire ravaging the Spanish holiday island of Tenerife that has burnt through more than 2,600 hectares of land is the "most complex" blaze to hit the Canary Islands in four decades, the regional government said Thursday......»»