Wildfire Content

LA Fires: Chemicals From the Smoke Lingered Inside Homes Long After the Wildfires Were Out

Katherine E Kerlin — January 06, 2026 - 12:16pm

When wildfires began racing through the Los Angeles area on Jan. 7, 2025, the scope of the disaster caught residents by surprise. Forecasters had warned about high winds and exceptionally dry conditions, but few people expected to see smoke and fires for weeks in one of America’s largest metro areas.

Lessons from the Caldor Fire’s Christmas Valley ‘Miracle’

Katherine E Kerlin — December 19, 2025 - 9:00am

The Lake Tahoe communities of Christmas Valley and Meyers were spared during 2021's Caldor Fire. A 51�ԹϺ�� Davis study reveals which pre-fire fuel treatments worked best to bring about the Christmas Valley "miracle."

Chromium-6, Nanosilver Detected in LA Fire Cleanup Zones

Katherine E Kerlin — August 27, 2025 - 9:53am

Air quality scientists have detected elevated levels of hexavalent chromium and silver in air samples collected from the debris cleanup zones for the Eaton and Palisades wildfires, which occurred January 2025 in Los Angeles County.

Burning Question: How to Save an Old-Growth Forest in Tahoe

Katherine E Kerlin — March 03, 2025 - 9:02am

On the shores of Lake Tahoe at Emerald Bay State Park grows what some consider to be the most iconic old-growth forest in the Lake Tahoe Basin. Giant ponderosa pines — some of the last remaining in the area — share space with at least 13 other tree species.

LA Wildfires Air Quality Research Roundup

Katherine E Kerlin — February 07, 2025 - 10:49am

How 51�ԹϺ�� Davis air quality scientists are working to understand the impacts of the Los Angeles wildfires. A research roundup.

Wildfire, Smoke and Air Quality Experts

Katherine E Kerlin — January 15, 2025 - 6:30am

A 51�ԹϺ�� Davis wildfire, smoke and air quality experts list for media, updated for 2024.

Shrubs Can Help or Hinder a Forest’s Recovery After Wildfire

Katherine E Kerlin — December 16, 2024 - 10:12am

When and where to plant tree seedlings restore forests after wildfires has a lot to do with shrubs, finds a 51�ԹϺ�� Davis study.

Less Severe Forest Fires Can Reduce Intensity of Future Blazes

Emily C Dooley — August 19, 2024 - 1:37pm

Low- and moderate-severity forest wildfires can reduce the intensity of future fires, according to new research on "reburns" by the University of California, Davis.

California a Botanical and Climate Change Hot Spot

Katherine E Kerlin — July 29, 2024 - 12:00pm

California's natural beauty and pioneering conservation efforts make it a test bed for protecting biodiversity in the face of climate change, says a 51�ԹϺ�� Davis study in PNAS.

Wildfire Smoke Reached 99% of U.S. Lakes in 2019-2021

Katherine E Kerlin — June 07, 2024 - 9:00am

Where there's smoke, there's not always fire. Wildfire smoke drifted to nearly every lake in North America for at least one day per year from 2019 to 2021, found a 51�ԹϺ�� Davis study.