Climate change
Research from Stanford University highlights the significance of advancing wildfire-retardant materials and suppression strategies to address the growing challenges of climate change. The study, recently published in Advanced Engineering Materials, emphasizes the need for sustainable solutions that combine effectiveness with ecological conservation. According to the research, direct suppression methods have
Natural resources
The world has witnessed an unprecedented decade of devastating wildfires, floods, hurricanes, droughts, and heat waves, with every continent being affected. These events have overwhelmed national resources, requiring governments to seek assistance from other countries and posing significant threats to lives, well-being, economies, infrastructure, and ecosystem services. The increasing frequency
Natural resources
In a damning report released in September, Grassroots Wildland Firefighters found that US Forest Service work to reduce fire-fueling debris has decreased by nearly 40% compared to the previous four years' average. This alarming trend raises concerns about the country's ability to prevent wildfires, particularly in the
Natural resources
As the 2025 wildfire season comes to a close, the Government of Canada has reflected on the challenges faced and the support provided to affected communities. With over 6,000 wildfires burning across the country, the situation has impacted communities in nearly every province and territory, forcing evacuations of over
Natural resources
Colorado has made a breakthrough in combatting wildfires and training conservation professionals through an innovative partnership between the Colorado National Guard and Serve Colorado. The CONG/AmeriCorps pilot program, launched in May 2025, brings together the expertise of the National Guard with the energy and dedication of AmeriCorps members to
Climate change
A devastating record has been set in air pollution deaths from wildfires, with 154,000 fatalities worldwide last year, a 36% increase over the 2003-12 average. The alarming figure is part of a comprehensive survey on the health impact of climate change, The Lancet Countdown, which assessed 20 climate-related health
Climate change
Global heat-related deaths have risen by 23% since the 1990s, with 546,000 deaths occurring each year, while a record 154,000 deaths were attributed to air pollution from wildfire smoke in 2024 alone. The report highlights the surge in health harms due to climate change, with 2.5 million
Climate change
The international research initiative "The Lancet Countdown" has published a report in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), highlighting the unprecedented threat climate change poses to global health. Worsening climate conditions are causing millions of deaths worldwide each year. Heatwaves, droughts, air pollution, and increasingly frequent wildfires
Climate change
As Canada grapples with escalating wildfire risks, Wawanesa is escalating its support for community-led prevention and mitigation efforts through its Community Wildfire Prevention Grants. The program, now in its fourth year, has invested $2 million annually to support grassroots initiatives in high-risk areas. Since its inception in 2022, Wawanesa has
Natural resources
Hundreds of thousands of Californians, overwhelmed by private insurance companies fleeing the market, have turned to a state-managed insurance pool known as the FAIR Plan. However, after the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles earlier this year, the FAIR Plan is now seeking a 36% rate hike, further squeezing homeowners with
California Wildfires, 2025
Jonathan Rinderknecht, a 29-year-old man accused of starting the destructive Palisades fire in Los Angeles, pleaded not guilty to charges in connection to the blaze. The fire, which burned more than 23,000 acres, destroyed thousands of homes and claimed the lives of 12 people. Prosecutors claim that Rinderknecht deliberately
Air quality
Rutgers Health professors have received a $4 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to study the effects of wildfire smoke on fertility and reproductive health. Led by Philip Demokritou, a professor of nanoscience and environmental bioengineering, the research program will examine how wildfire smoke exposure affects
