October 28, 2019

Understanding devastating wildfires

With California’s wildfire season already bringing evacuations, damage to communities and lasting health effects, Stanford faculty have been exploring ways of preventing fires and managing health risks.

By Stanford News Service

California continues to be devastated by wildfires that have burned roughly 1.2 million acres since Aug. 15.

In the Bay Area, three fires in particular – the LNU Lightning Complex, SCU Lightning Complex and CZU August Lightning Complex – have caused unsafe air conditions and forced thousands to flee their homes.

In the meantime, the National Weather Service has issued red-flag warnings for increased risk of fire dangers for some 10 million people in the West, citing warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds.

And this scenario is becoming a yearly event in California and throughout the West.

Stanford faculty have been studying the health effects of breathing smoke and particulates in communities surrounding California’s wildfires as well as investigating policies and technologies for preventing fires. Other experts are thinking about the lasting financial effects of wildfires on the state – particularly for the state’s largest electric utility, which was found responsible for three of the fires in 2018.

This page was last updated Aug. 27, 2020.

Law & Policy

Living with fires: Mitigating risks with law and environmental policy

Stanford Law Professor Deborah Sivas discusses the effects of climate on fires in California and policy changes that might lessen their danger on residents.

Science & Technology

Wildfire weather

Unusual lightning strikes sparked the massive wildfires burning across California. Stanford climate and wildfire experts discuss extreme weather’s role in current and future wildfires, as well as ways to combat the trend toward bigger, more intense conflagrations.

Science & Technology

Wildfires’ health impacts

California’s massive wildfires bring a host of health concerns for vulnerable populations, firefighters and others. Kari Nadeau and Mary Prunicki of Stanford’s Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Research discuss related threats, preparedness and ongoing research.

Science & Technology

Mapping dry wildfire fuels with AI and new satellite data

Researchers have developed a deep-learning model that maps fuel moisture levels in fine detail across 12 western states, opening a door for better fire predictions.

Science & Technology

Increasing risk of extreme wildfire weather

The study finds that autumn days with extreme fire weather have more than doubled in California since the early 1980s due to climate change. The results could contribute to more effective risk mitigation, land management and resource allocation.

Strategic investments for wildfire preparedness

In the midst of a global pandemic, California is entering into wildfire season with reduced resources and higher risks, explained Michael Wara, director of Stanford’s Climate and Energy Program, at a recent event hosted by the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.

Science & Technology

Californians unwilling to subsidize wildfire prevention

Despite statewide devastation from wildfires, a new poll conducted by the Bill Lane Center for the American West shows Californians are still reluctant to subsidize wildfire prevention or support relocating communities at risk.

Science & Technology

Wildfire’s impact on water quality

Stanford hydrologist Newsha Ajami, an appointee to California’s regional water quality board, discusses how wildfires affect water quality, and how we can better prepare for and react to the challenges.

Science & Technology

Setting fires to avoid fires

Despite having proven effective at reducing wildfire risks, prescribed burns have been stymied by perceived and real risks, regulations and resource shortages. A new analysis highlights ways of overcoming those barriers, offering solutions for wildfire-ravaged landscapes.

Science & Technology

New treatment prevents wildfires

Scientists and engineers worked with state and local agencies to develop and test a long-lasting, environmentally benign fire-retarding material. If used on high-risk areas, the simple, affordable treatment could dramatically cut the number of fires that occur each year.