Experts available: High winds, grassfire risk, Marshall Fire anniversary
Wildfire risk in Colorado and across the country is increasingly a year-round concern. With the anniversary of the Marshall Fire approaching on Dec. 30, CU Boulder experts are available to provide insight into winter fire risk, wind-driven fire behavior, and long-term recovery and resilience.
Contact cunews@colorado.edu to request an interview.
Understanding and predicting wildfire behavior
Peter Hamlington, professor of mechanical engineering, can discuss how wildfires move and spread under different conditions. His research focuses on the factors that influence wildfire behavior, including wind, precipitation and vegetation.
- Read: Wind tunnel research could help predict how wildfires spread
- Watch the video
- Download video: VO | SOTS
Fire risk and resilience
Matthew Evan Bitters, fire risk and forest resilience project manager at Earth Lab, oversees large-scale research on wildfire risk, ecological disturbance and ecosystem resilience. He studies why some fires spread rapidly and cause major damage, how ecosystems recover afterward and what that means for future fire risk to communities.
Virginia Iglesias, research associate and director of Earth Lab at CU Boulder, can speak to how scientists use data—from satellites to climate models—to understand wildfire risk, impacts on communities and ecosystems, and strategies for long-term resilience. Print interviews preferred.
Reducing wildfire risk near grasslands
Katharine Suding, professor of distinction in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR), is working on ways to reduce grassland fire risk without sacrificing biodiversity or soil carbon storage. Her work includes several pilot projects in the Boulder County area.
Underinsurance and recovery costs after wildfire
Emily Gallagher and Tony Cookson, professors of finance at the Leeds School of Business, can discuss a growing risk for homeowners: underinsurance. Research analyzing claims from Colorado’s 2021 Marshall Fire found that 74% of affected homeowners were underinsured, with many facing six-figure shortfalls.
Wildfire smoke and indoor air quality
Joost de Gouw, professor of chemistry and researcher with the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), can discuss the sources and chemical transformations of air pollutants from wildfires in both outdoor and indoor environments. His research found that harmful air pollutants lingered in homes for weeks following the Marshall Fire.