wildfires Archives - Disasters News

Mar102025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rising Climate Driven Wildfires to Reshape Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounting

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

Wildfires fueled by climate change are becoming a significant contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, forcing scientists and policymakers to rethink how these emissions are accounted for in global inventories. Minal Pathak, an associate professor at the Global Centre for Environment and Energy at Ahmedabad University and a contributing author of the United Nations Emissions Gap Report, discusses the challenges of including wildfire emissions in global emission estimates and the broader implications for climate policy. The recent wildfires in California have once again underscored the devastating effects of climate-induced disasters. The Palisades and Eaton fires, which ignited on January 7, 2025, burned over 23,000 and 14,000 acres, respectively. By January 23, the California Dep...

Mar72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

US Disaster Los Angeles Wildfires Kill 24 Destroy Thousands of Homes

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Los Angeles: Massive wildfires continue to rage across Los Angeles, leaving at least 24 people dead and thousands of homes in ruins. California Governor Gavin Newsom has called it one of the most devastating natural disasters in U.S. history. The fires, which have been burning for six consecutive days, have spread across two major zones the Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire. Officials confirmed that eight victims were found in the Palisades Fire zone, while 16 were discovered in Eaton Fire’s path. Among those killed was former Australian child star Rory Sykes, known for his role in the British TV show Kiddy Kapers. The Palisades Fire has now scorched 23,600 acres and is only 11% contained, while the Eaton Fire has spread to 14,000 acres with 15% containment. Firefighters also reporte...

Feb252025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Raging Infernos Forest Fires Surge $30 billion loss as Climate Change Fuels Destruction

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

Forest fires have become a global crisis, unleashing destruction on ecosystems, air quality, and biodiversity while intensifying climate change. The growing frequency and severity of wildfires from Russia to Australia highlight the urgent need for better fire management strategies and stronger climate action. In Los Angeles, wildfires recently caused losses of $30 billion, burning over 57,000 acres and destroying 16,000 structures. Between 2001 and 2023, wildfires wiped out 138 million hectares of tree cover worldwide, with Russia, Canada, and the U.S. suffering the highest losses. Meanwhile, global wildfires have emitted five to eight billion tonnes of CO₂ annually, worsening air pollution and health risks. India, too, faces escalating wildfire threats. With nearly 1.65 million hect...

Feb242025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

How Satellites AI Supercomputers Are Changing the Battle Against Wildfires

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Learning & Developments, Space, Tech

As wildfires raged through Los Angeles in January 2025, cutting-edge technology played a crucial role in firefighting efforts. Satellites, artificial intelligence, and advanced computer models helped firefighters track, predict, and combat the fast-moving blazes. Fire detection has come a long way from the early 20th-century lookout towers built after the devastating Great Fire of 1910. Today, California alone has over 1,100 cameras scanning for smoke, with AI continuously analyzing images to detect fires before they spread. NOAA satellites provide real-time heat signatures, fire perimeter mapping, and air quality assessments. Once a fire is detected, predicting its behavior becomes essential. Advanced computer simulations use fuel models, terrain data, and real-time weather forecast...

Feb122025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Harvey Mudd College Launches Course Exploring STEM’s Role in Wildfire Mitigation

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters

Harvey Mudd College has introduced a groundbreaking course designed to help STEM students critically analyze the societal impact of scientific and technological interventions. Developed as part of the college’s revised Core Curriculum in 2020, the course aims to address the long-standing challenge of ensuring students fully grasp the consequences of their work beyond technical proficiency. Taught by a team of eight instructors spanning disciplines such as biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, media studies, political science, religious studies, and science and technology studies, the course focuses on California wildfires. By examining the intersection of science, policy, and historical context, students explore how decisions in STEM fields shape real-world outcomes. One...

Feb102025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

LA Schools Face Tough Road to Recovery After Wildfires

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment

As Los Angeles County students return to school after devastating wildfires, the focus is on more than just rebuilding classrooms. With over 1,000 schools closed and 600,000 students affected, the impact extends beyond lost buildings it disrupts learning, mental well-being, and the stability schools provide. Learning Loss and Emotional Recovery Past disasters show that pushing students back into classrooms too quickly can be counterproductive. Florida reopened most schools just a week after Hurricane Ian in 2022, but experts suggest emotional healing must come before academic recovery. Following Hurricane Helene in 2024, North Carolina sent over 260 counselors to support affected students. Schools integrated recovery into lessons science teachers used water testing kits to analyze...

Feb72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Los Angeles Fires Leave Lasting Impact on Health, Environment, and Community

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Fact Check

The flames may have died down, but the aftermath of Los Angeles’ devastating wildfires continues to affect public health, the environment, and daily life. Experts at a recent UCLA Fielding School of Public Health event warned that the city is facing an epochal disaster that has transformed air, soil, and institutions. Air Quality and Health Risks Even miles away from the burn zones, smoke and toxic particles have impacted the air. PM2.5 fine particulate matter from wildfires can lodge deep in the lungs, causing heart and respiratory issues, said Yifang Zhu, a professor of environmental health sciences. Even when air looks clear, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may linger, making exposure dangerous. Michael Jerrett, an expert in climate and public health, highlighted the severe h...

Jan312025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Flooding After Wildfires LA Faces Growing Risk Amid Climate Change

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

In the aftermath of devastating urban wildfires, a rainstorm might seem like a welcome relief. However, fire-scorched landscapes are highly vulnerable to floods, which can bring further destruction. Los Angeles has experienced this repeatedly, from the 1933 Griffith Park Fire to the 2009 Station Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains and the 2018 Woolsey Fire in Malibu. Mitul Luhar, an expert in fluid dynamics and associate professor of aerospace, mechanical, civil, and environmental engineering at USC, is studying these risks. At the City of Los Angeles's Hydraulic Research Laboratory in Frogtown, Luhar and his team have developed a 1:120 scale hydraulic model of a section of the L.A. River to simulate flood scenarios. Luhar explains why floods often follow wildfires and what engineers c...

Jan302025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Climate Change Made LA Wildfires 35% More Likely, Study Finds

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check

Los Angeles witnessed one of its worst wildfire outbreaks in January 2025, and according to a new World Weather Attribution (WWA) report, human-induced climate change played a key role in making the conditions 35% more likely. The fires, which began on January 7 in Palisades and Eaton counties, quickly spread, fueled by dry vegetation and strong Santa Ana winds. Over the following weeks, additional fires erupted in San Diego County, ultimately burning over 57,000 acres and causing 28 deaths. For the first time in history, global temperatures surpassed 1.5°C in 2024. The WWA report warns that if temperatures rise to 2.6°C by 2100, the likelihood of such wildfire-friendly conditions will increase by another 35%. Clair Barnes, a researcher at Imperial College London, emphasized how p...

Jan272025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Rising Debris Flow Risks Dangerous Link Between Wildfires, Rainfall, and Climate Change

Breaking News, Disasters, Fact Check

Debris flows, fast-moving masses of mud, rocks, and water, are becoming a growing concern in the United States, particularly in areas recently affected by wildfires. A map produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) highlights high-risk zones near Los Angeles after the Palisades Fire. The model simulates a scenario where 15 minutes of rainfall, at just under 1 inch (24 mm) per hour, could trigger debris flows in vulnerable regions. The landscape itself can create ideal conditions for debris flows. Steep slopes, the presence of clay-rich soil, and silt-sized particles in watersheds are key contributors. Generally, slopes gentler than 23 degrees and lacking fine-grain materials are less likely to experience debris flows. Post-wildfire conditions worsen the risk. Severely burned areas...