Fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, fast-moving wildfires in Southern California have forced thousands to evacuate and prompted emergency declarations in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The Canyon Fire, which ignited Thursday afternoon, has scorched nearly 5,000 acres. Authorities warn the fire is advancing rapidly, threatening homes, infrastructure and recreational areas.
Rice University experts are available to provide insights into the wildfires.
Environmental impacts
Caroline Masiello, professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences, researches the cycling and fate of carbon, including fire‐derived black carbon in soils and the environment. She can offer insights into wildfire-related carbon emissions and environmental recovery.
Infrastructure resilience
Avantika Gori, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering, studies the intersection of climate-driven hazards and their impact on the built and natural environments.
Community responses
Cymene Howe, professor of anthropology, examines how climate-related disasters, including wildfires, affect urban communities, and she studies the importance of inclusive, interdisciplinary approaches to mitigation and adaptation.
Improving predictions
Noemi Vergopolan, assistant professor of Earth, environmental and planetary sciences, specializes in the water-climate nexus using advanced satellite remote sensing and machine learning to improve predictions of hydrological extremes and support decision-making during crises.
To schedule an interview with any of Rice’s experts on wildfire-related topics, contact media relations specialists Marcy de Luna at marcy.deluna@rice.edu or Alex Becker at alex.becker@rice.edu, or Chris Stipes, executive director of news and media relations, at chris.stipes@rice.edu.