To evaluate the recent literature on differential exposure to and health risks from wildfire smoke across subpopulations, whether wildfire-derived PM2.5 affects health differently from non-wildfire-derived PM2.5, and how wildfire smoke composition affects health. We found inconsistent evidence of differential exposure to and health risks from wildfire PM2.5 by population subgroups. This could be due to variation in wildfire PM2.5 infiltration into buildings and ability to take individual protective actions, both of which have been noted to be related to socio-economic status in the recent scientific literature. Respiratory health endpoints have been the most consistent and commonly evaluated health outcome in studies of wildfire smoke; additional research is needed to resolve conflicting findings for non-respiratory health outcomes (e.g., cardiovascular disease). Although some recent studies have documented larger health risks from wildfire-derived as compared to non-wildfire-derived PM2.5, we document how further research could evaluate whether these findings are confounded by type of fuel burned, due to methodological concerns, or are true. We also conclude that more research is necessary to elucidate potential differences in health risks of constituents of wildfire smoke other than PM2.5 or from burning of different fuels. Wildfire smoke is projected to continue to increase. We encourage future research to move away from further documentation of respiratory health impacts of wildfire smoke, which has been very well established, into studies of other health endpoints that have been less well studied to date, more exploration into health effects from wildfire smoke constituents other than PM2.5 and from different types of fires (i.e., wildland urban interface (WUI) fires versus wildland fires), and additional exploration of remaining uncertainties with a goal of further supporting public health protection from wildfire smoke.
In 2022, New Mexico (NM) experienced a number of wildfires, including the state's largest, Calf Canyon/Hermit's Peak. This study aimed to evaluate how different exposure estimate methods and referent period selection impacted associations between wildfire smoke and health outcomes using a case-crossover study design. We investigated associations with exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke and cardiorespiratory-related emergency department (ED) visits in NM during 2022. Our study compared a range of exposure methods: (a) PM2.5 from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory-grade monitors, (b) PM2.5 from both the EPA regulatory-grade monitors and low-cost PurpleAir observations, (c) modeled 24-hr average wildfire smoke PM2.5 from the Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System (CMAQ), and (d) CMAQ daily 1-hr maximum wildfire smoke PM2.5. The magnitude and statistical significance of health outcome associations varied substantially across exposure estimates and referent period selections. CMAQ-based exposure estimates produced odds ratios with wider confidence intervals (CIs), while the product that leveraged both regulatory and bias-corrected PurpleAir measurements improved the PM2.5 measurement spatial coverage and yielded epidemiological estimates with narrower CIs. This highlights the importance of low-cost sensors in rural regions. Our findings emphasize the need to critically assess the inputs used in epidemiological studies for accurate and meaningful results, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of exposure assessment methods and study design when evaluating wildfire smoke health impacts. It is important to understand how smoke affects human health in a warming climate. In 2022, New Mexico (NM) experienced the state's largest wildfire, Calf Canyon/Hermit's Peak. We used emergency department visits in NM to explore how different ways of measuring wildfire smoke exposure affected the results of a health study. We focused on fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure using four methods: (a) PM2.5 from the EPA regulatory‐grade monitors, (b) PM2.5 from both the EPA regulatory‐grade monitors and low‐cost PurpleAir observations, (c) modeled 24‐hr average wildfire smoke PM2.5 from the Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System (CMAQ), and (d) CMAQ daily 1‐hr maximum wildfire smoke PM2.5. Results varied depending on how smoke was estimated and the study design. The combination of regulatory monitors and low‐cost sensors improved the results because there was better coverage of monitors, highlighting the need for more air quality sensors. However, even with improved PM2.5 measurement coverage, the estimated health impacts were sensitive to methodological choices, such as how comparison days were selected. This study shows that decisions about how to measure smoke and health study design can strongly influence results, highlighting the need for careful consideration when evaluating the health impacts of wildfire smoke.
Millions of outdoor workers cannot avoid wildfire smoke, likely leading to inequalities in exposure and health risk, but we lack a comprehensive understanding of how many outdoor workers are exposed to wildfire smoke in the United States (US). We first characterized work-related exposure to wildfire PM2.5 for 3,108 contiguous US counties during 2006-2019 by integrating data on wildfire smoke-specific PM2.5, workplace activities, and employment counts. We then compared the racial and ethnic composition of each county with the person-days exposed to ambient and work-related wildfire smoke to investigate whether certain racial and ethnic groups experience differential exposure to wildfire smoke at home and at work. Lastly, we replicated a previous analysis of ambient wildfire smoke impacts on all-cause mortality and stratified it by work-related exposure to understand differential mortality effects of ambient wildfire PM2.5. Despite experiencing less ambient exposure to wildfire PM2.5, counties with higher portions of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic Americans experienced higher work-related exposures. We also find suggestive evidence that the effect of ambient smoke fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations on all-cause mortality may differ by workplace exposure. These findings suggest that workplace exposures should be considered in wildfire smoke-adaptation measures.
This study quantified the greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction potential of a hypothetical harvest reduction scenario using a system approach that included ecosystem carbon dynamics with future wildfires, tracking of carbon in wood products and substitution impacts of emissions-intensive materials. A Harvest Less scenario reduced harvest volume by ∼15% and preferentially harvested stands with higher wildfire-risk while retaining lower wildfire-risk stands on the landscape. Stand selection was guided by a harvest scheduler that prioritized higher wildfire risk stands during optimization. Open-source models and publicly available datasets were used to estimate net GHG benefits relative to a forward-looking baseline. A statistical approach was used to project future area burned across distinct fire zones, enabling quantitative assessment of wildfire risk under a changing climate. The net GHG reduction associated with reduced harvest volumes varied by region and wildfire regime. Nationally, the cumulative net GHG reduction was -836 MtCO2e (80% confidence interval -820 to -854) after 40 years, with annual mitigation peaking after roughly 10 years and declining thereafter. Regions with high burn rates exhibited greater uncertainty in the climate change mitigation potential of reduced harvesting. These findings emphasize the need for a balanced forest management approach that accounts for both carbon sequestration and wildfire risk to effectively mitigate climate change.
Wildfire smoke is a major source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and may increase vulnerability to severe infectious outcomes such as sepsis, a condition responsible for an estimated 49 million cases and 11 million deaths annually. Despite this global burden, to our knowledge, no prior epidemiological study has specifically examined the association between wildfire-specific PM2.5 exposure and infectious disease-related sepsis. We conducted a multi-country time-series analysis across 1024 communities in seven countries/territories (2000-2019). Daily hospitalizations for infectious disease-related sepsis were identified using ICD-10 codes, restricted to explicit sepsis diagnoses. Wildfire-specific PM2.5 was estimated using the GEOS-Chem chemical transport model combined with machine learning calibration and linked to hospitalization data. Associations between wildfire-specific PM2.5 and sepsis hospitalizations were estimated using quasi-Poisson regression with distributed lag non-linear models over lag 0-7 days. Community-specific estimates were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. Across all communities, we identified 2.3 million infectious disease-related sepsis hospitalizations, with the highest burden among older adults and in Brazil. Each 10 μg/m3 increase in wildfire-specific PM2.5 was associated with a 1.5% increase in sepsis hospitalizations (Relative Risk [RR]: 1.015, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.007-1.024), nearly double the effect of non-wildfire PM2.5 (0.8%). Strongest associations were found among children aged <5 years (RR: 1.063, 95%CI: 1.029-1.097) and those aged 5-19 years (1.093, 1.050-1.138), in moderately populated communities, and in New Zealand and Brazil. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings. Short-term exposure to wildfire-specific PM2.5 was associated with increased risk of hospitalization for infectious disease-related sepsis, particularly greater risks in adolescents and young children. These findings underscore the need of further research to clarify underlying mechanisms and long-term impacts.
To quantify the hospital burden of short-term wildfire-specific fine particulate matter (PM2.5), we linked 184.5 million patient-level hospitalizations across 449 Brazilian regions from 2000-2019 with daily wildfire-specific and non-wildfire PM2.5 estimates at 0.25° resolution. Using wind-driven variation in wildfire-specific PM2.5 within a space-time-stratified case-crossover framework, we estimated the effects of exposure on hospitalization costs and length of stay. Each 1 µg/m3 increase in wildfire-specific PM2.5 was associated with higher hospitalization costs for all-cause, respiratory, and cardiovascular diseases by 0.36%, 1.59%, and 0.25%, respectively, and longer stays by 0.63%, 1.72%, and 0.68%. Asthma and heart failure showed the largest cost increases, while asthma and pneumonia showed the largest increases in length of stay. Overall, wildfire-specific PM2.5 accounted for US$755.6 million in hospitalization costs and 30.8 million hospital days, with stronger relative effects among individuals aged 0-19 years and higher burdens in central-west Brazil.
Wildfires and insect outbreaks are major natural disturbances in boreal forests, and both are intensifying with climate change. Since insects are sensitive bio-indicators, wildfire smoke may alter their role in forest ecosystems. In 2023, wildfires in Eastern Canada caused extreme smoke events, with fine particulate matter (PM2.5) reaching hazardous air quality levels above 400 µg/m3. We investigated how smoke exposure during larval development affects wing morphology, body mass, and flight capacity in two outbreaking forest defoliators: the eastern spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana Clemens) and forest tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma disstria Hübner). Spruce budworm larvae were collected from white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) pre-wildfire and after smoke exposure. Wing malformations were categorized as folded, crumpled, or undeveloped. Smoke exposure significantly increased malformation rates, particularly folded and crumpled wings, while undeveloped wings decreased. Malformation was unaffected by sex but more common in forewings. Forest tent caterpillars collected from trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) after smoke events also showed higher wing deformity rates compared to clean-air lab and later field samples. Males were especially affected, showing more malformations and reduced flight activity, indicated by lower pheromone trap captures. In both species, wing malformation correlated with higher body mass, regardless of sex. These findings reveal that wildfire smoke can disrupt insect development, altering morphology, physiology, and behavior in ways that are poorly understood. As wildfires intensify, smoke-driven effects may have complex and unpredictable consequences for forest ecosystems.
Wildfire activity in the United States is increasing due to climate change, land management practices, and human ignitions, reversing decades of air quality progress. Wildfire is an essential process in fire-adapted ecosystems, but fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from wildfire smoke poses significant health risks both near the fire source and in communities far from fire-prone areas. Public health and forest management are often viewed as having conflicting goals-reducing smoke exposure versus restoring fire to ecosystems-but opportunities for collaboration exist. We analyzed an interdisciplinary panel discussion from the 2024 Rocky Mountain Wildfire Smoke Symposium (RMWSS) using thematic analysis and the RADaR technique to identify such opportunities. Four major themes emerged: (a) coordinated communication between stakeholders, (b) barriers and facilitators to bridge building across disciplines, (c) impacts of climate change and (d) priorities and perspectives across disciplines. Additionally, we synthesized the panel discussion and audience polling data into a figure that categorizes solutions by perceived investment, impact, and stakeholder responsibility. High impact objectives included advancing climate resilient community infrastructure, expanding resource sharing, and securing full-time equivalent (FTE) funding for smoke specialists and communication liaisons. Collaboration across disciplines, combined with long-term policy that reduces barriers for safe fire management while investing in clean air will be critical to addressing the wildfire crisis. Wildfires are becoming more frequent and intense and smoke from these fires can harm people's health—even in communities far from the flames. At the same time, fire is important in maintaining healthy forests. Balancing forest management and public health requires stronger coordination across disciplines. We examined a discussion among experts in public health, forest management, and fire science to identify ways to better prepare for a future with more fire and smoke. The conversation highlighted common challenges, including gaps in communication, limited coordination across agencies, and a lack of resources. It also highlighted ways to build bridges across disciplines including consistent public messaging, better access to clean indoor air spaces, and policy investments that support both healthy forests and clean air.
Stratospheric water vapour (SWV) is a key greenhouse gas that influences both global climate and stratospheric ozone chemistry1-4. Its abundance is strongly modulated by natural climate variability1,5-8. Volcanic eruptions have long been expected to humidify the stratosphere via tropopause warming9,10, but observational confirmation has been lacking. Here we provide observational evidence that moderate volcanic eruptions and extreme wildfires since 2005 have systematically increased SWV. Both contribute through aerosol-induced tropopause warming; however, extreme wildfires reveal an additional self-lofting pathway that transports water vapour into the stratosphere. Complementary analysis of satellite observations and climate model simulations reveals an SWV enhancement of about 0.1 ppmv at 83 hPa, accumulating 76-203 million tons of water vapour during 2005-2021. This contribution explains 36 ± 7% of the observed SWV trend over this period, comparable to that from the global surface temperature increase. SWV changes induced by the surface temperature trend, moderate volcanic eruptions and extreme wildfire events have together effectively offset the sudden 10% SWV decrease observed around 2000. Episodic aerosol perturbations from moderate volcanic eruptions and extreme wildfires therefore emerge as a previously overlooked driver of SWV variability. Future projections of stratospheric composition, radiative forcing and ozone recovery should account for these aerosol-mediated processes, especially as extreme fires intensify in a warming world.
Wildfires in California's Sierra Nevada during 2020-2021 killed giant sequoias (Sequoiadendron giganteum) at rates unseen for millennia, underscoring the vulnerability of highly fire-adapted trees to ongoing environmental change. Following a century of fire exclusion and fuel accumulation, the effectiveness of prescribed burns in reducing giant sequoia mortality from wildfire remained poorly quantified. Here we estimate mortality outcomes for 26,403 giant sequoias across 19 groves in Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks following the Castle (2020) and KNP Complex (2021) wildfires using a Bayesian framework. We map tree mortality using a deep learning classifier integrating 3 m PlanetScope imagery, airborne lidar, and field observations. From an estimated 7,974 sequoia deaths (95% Bayesian credible interval (CI): 7,555-8,430), corresponding to 30.2% mortality (CI: 28.6-31.9%), we find previous prescribed burns (≤10 years prior) reduced mortality odds by 77% (CI: 69-83%), making treated trees nearly four times more likely to survive. Counterfactual simulations suggest that prescribed burns prevented at least 1,888 (CI: 1,487-2,302) deaths, and universal treatment would have saved an additional 3,888 (CI: 3,236-4,580) giant sequoias. These results show that prescribed burns substantially improve survival during extreme wildfires, offering guidance for conserving long-lived, fire-adapted forests under intensifying fire regimes.
In the past two decades, California's unprecedented wildfire activity has been driven by the combined effects of climate variability and human influence. This study investigates the sensitivity of number of fires (NF) and burned area (BA) to environmental and meteorological variability using machine learning and regression analysis. Monthly datasets (2000-2025) from the seven most severe wildfire years (2003, 2008, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2025), encompassing 12 key climatic parameters, were analyzed to quantify environmental and climatic controls on NF and BA. Generalized additive model (GAM) and random forest (RF) analyses revealed that NF exhibited considerably stronger climatic predictability (R² = 0.73 and 0.74, respectively) than BA (R² = 0.27 and 0.36). Temperature and rainfall emerged as dominant predictors of NF and BA, respectively, with variable importance analyses ranking soil moisture as a secondary yet critical driver. RF modeling revealed a nonlinear escalation of fire activity above ~ 30 °C and a rainfall threshold, with precipitation > 1 mm markedly reducing ignition and spread. Soil moisture and solar radiation modulated BA, while NF was predominantly driven by temperature and soil moisture. Spearman correlation analysis showed that wildfire activity is influenced by lagged climatic effects, with temperature positively (r = + 0.62) and precipitation negatively (r = -0.58) correlated, while vegetation indices and PDSI (r = + 0.41-0.47) indicate persistent drought and fuel effects. Validation showed higher accuracy for NF, emphasizing its stronger environmental control and greater predictability relative to BA. Overall, the findings highlight the nonlinear climate-wildfire dynamics and the dominant role of temperature and precipitation in driving extreme events in California.
The Mediterranean Basin is facing an increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires driven by climate change, raising concern about their off-site impacts on marine ecosystems. This study provides for the first time the effects of wildfire ash on the early developmental stages of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus, a keystone Mediterranean species. Environmentally relevant aqueous ash extracts (AEAs; 5 g/L) and their dilutions were tested through spermio- and embryotoxicity assays, assessing responses across multiple levels of biological organization. Fertilization success, larval development and morphology, apoptosis and enzymatic activity were evaluated up to 72 h of exposure. In addition, the Index of Contaminant Impact (ICI) was estimated by classifying the type and frequency of larval morphological anomalies, allowing the prediction of ash concentrations that may pose an ecotoxicological risk to sea urchins. Although fertilization was not affected, early development was significantly impaired, revealing a higher sensitivity of fertilized egg exposure rather than sperm. Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) inhibition, increased acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and enhanced apoptosis were observed, indicating the activation of inflammatory and stress-related pathways. Alterations in larval morphology and development were found from 25% AEA dilution upwards, being responsible from slight to moderate impact. Overall, these results suggest that wildfire ash represents an emerging threat to the early life stages of coastal marine species such as echinoderms. Furthermore, they support the use of sea urchins as sensitive bioindicators of wildfire-related marine pollution.
Increased ambient temperature alongside concomitant heatwaves and wildfire smoke imperil human health. We examined whether long-term episodic exposure to wildfire smoke induced greater respiratory injury/inflammation in male rats subchronically housed at elevated temperature or consuming unhealthy, cholesterol-rich diets. Respiratory effects of wildfire eucalyptus smoke exposure (WFES; ∼7mg/m3 particulate matter) were assessed 2h and 24h post-exposure in rats housed at 22 °C (room temperature; RT) consuming normal diet (ND) and exposed to filtered air (FA) or WFES for 1h. To determine effects of ongoing exposure, 4-5-week-old rats were subchronically housed at RT or high temperature (HT; 30-31°C) and fed ND or high-cholesterol (2%) diet (HCD). Rats were episodically exposed to FA or WFES 1h/d, 1d/wk, for 12-13wk. 48h after final exposure, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) lung injury and inflammation, gene expression, and lung/nasal pathology were assessed. Acute WFES exposure increased BALF markers of lung injury and neutrophilic inflammation. Subchronic HT resulted in >30% lower weight gain and decreased body fat relative to RT; effects were greater in episodically WFES-exposed rats. Whole body plethysmography revealed HT-induced changes in breathing parameters; WFES exacerbated these effects. Small effects were observed on BALF markers of lung injury/inflammation, consistent with minimal pathological findings in lung and nasal cavity. All three stressors, individually and in combination, inhibited gene expression of proteins involved in glucocorticoid-mediated regulation of neuroendocrine stress response and peripheral homeostatic physiology. These findings suggest functional impairment at HT, exacerbated by WFES, linked to dysregulation of stress without affecting structural integrity of respiratory tract.
Energy exchange in the fire environment is highly influenced by the heterogeneous and dynamic coupling between the atmosphere, fire, and fuels. While it has long been known that radiation and convection are the dominant heat transfer mechanisms in wildfire spread, much is unknown about their relative contribution. This is largely due to significant challenges observing these processes in the extreme wildfire environment. We describe a low cost, easy to deploy, simple heat transfer sensor and associated model, which was developed to measure heat transfer in wildfire. The sensor consists of stainless steel thermocouple probes differing in emissivity and similar in geometry and size to fine fuel elements responsible for carrying fire. Field and laboratory tests indicate that stainless steel probes with 3.2 mm and 1.6 mm diameters alone are not able to resolve the highly-dynamic heat transfer ahead of the fire. However, coupling the probes with a fine-wire thermocouple significantly improves its sensitivity. Results presented here indicate that the sensor and model are capable of measuring physically realistic convective and radiative heat transfer in high-intensity crown fire and simple laboratory scenarios when compared to observations in literature. Some limitations are identified for future investigation and additional testing and validation are required.
The wildland-urban interface (WUI) fires have adverse effects on both physical and mental health. However, early biosignals changes related to fires are not well understood. Digital wearables can capture real-time changes in physiological stress and activity patterns, providing insight into the mechanisms of health effects of WUI fires and identifying vulnerable populations during and after WUI fires. This study aimed to assess the immediate and sustained changes in physical activity patterns and physiological stress markers during and after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. We conducted a longitudinal study of 15 older adults (mean age 73.2 years) during the 2025 Eaton Fire in Los Angeles, using the digital Oura Ring (Gen 3) continuously. Data were collected at baseline (Dec 9th, 2024 to Jan 6th, 2025), during the fire (Jan 7th, 2025 to Jan 12th, 2025), and after the fire (Jan 13th, 2025 to Jan 27th, 2025). Daily activity patterns (physical activity and sleep duration) and physiological stress (sleep heart rate, heart rate variability, sleep fragmentation, and breath rate) were collected, and linear mixed-effects models were used to investigate how these biosignals changed and how evacuation alerts impacted these changes. During the fire, six out of fifteen participants received evacuation alerts. We observed a 41-minute increase in sedentary time (P = .007), a 34 min reduction in sleep duration (P = .002), and a 0.4 BPM increase in sleep breath rate (P = .009). Although activity patterns returned to baseline post-fire, markers of physiological stress, including sleep heart rate and breath rate, remained elevated. Among participants who received evacuation alerts, the immediate and prolonged impacts are larger. The changes in activity patterns and increases in physiological stress during and after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfire in this cohort can indicate potential health effects. Digital bio-signals may serve as early indicators of adverse health outcomes following a wildfire.
Relationships between social and ecological recovery, and their influence on resilience during future wildfires, are often undocumented in post-fire research. The settings within which these processes occur and the factors that affect their progression can vary widely based on local contexts. We sought to document understandings of recovery, resilience, and the relationship between these two processes across six Southwestern US wildfires that burned in different social-ecological systems. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 62 key informants involved in various aspects of recovery after each fire to explore recovery and resilience as interacting processes within social-ecological systems while also documenting varied understandings and uncertainties that influence local progress. Interviews revealed varied understandings of what recovery and resilience entailed among individuals engaged in post-fire processes that produced both opportunities and drawbacks to collective progress after wildfire. While key informants recognized a broader need to intertwine social and ecological recovery efforts to advance resilience, there was little clarity on how to successfully achieve this integration, highlighting how differences in spatial and temporal recovery progress limit coordination. Uncertainty about post-fire outcomes also affected local decision-making about both recovery and resilience. Together, these findings reinforce the applicability of common tenets of social-ecological systems theory such as monitoring feedback, cross-scale interactions, and the co-evolution of social and ecological processes when exploring post-fire recovery. Our findings underscore a need for transparent, inclusive conversations about progress towards recovery and resilience and echo renewed calls for inter-agency and inter-system collaboration to bolster resilience during future fires.
Exposure to the particulate matter (PM2.5) component of wildfire smoke is associated with cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity and mortality. To minimize exposure to high concentrations of PM2.5 , public health officials recommend a multi-pronged mitigation approach through closing all doors and windows, as well as running a portable air cleaner (PAC) indoors to filter particulate from indoor air. Through experimental studies, mitigation efficacy of both remaining indoors and utilizing an air cleaner have been generally validated, but efficacy is inconsistent, depending on building structure and occupant behavior. This leads to difficulties in generalizing mitigation efficacy for the national housing stock to determine overall protection from wildfire smoke. Our review aims to summarize the studies examining smoke infiltration and PAC exposure mitigation efficacy to determine recommendations for building design and retrofit strategies that should be prioritized to minimize harmful exposure.Implications: These results summarize existing evidence from examinations of smoke infiltration and Portable Air Cleaner exposure mitigation efficacy to determine recommendations for building design and retrofit strategies that should be prioritized to minimize harmful exposure.
The Eaton wildfire burned during January 7-31, 2025, displacing approximately 100,000 residents, destroying 9,419 structures, and resulting in the deaths of 19 residents of the greater Pasadena, California, area. An evacuation shelter opened on January 7. On January 13, the Pasadena Public Health Department (PPHD) received reports of acute gastrointestinal illness, COVID-19, and influenza cases among shelter residents. An outbreak response was initiated, which included enhanced surveillance and improved infection prevention and control (IPC) measures. On January 18, additional assistance was requested from the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). During January 7-February 16 shelter operations, enhanced surveillance implemented in response to the outbreak identified 104 cases of norovirus, 56 of COVID-19, 29 of influenza, and 30 of nonspecified respiratory illness among residents and staff members. Reported norovirus, COVID-19, and influenza cases decreased sharply after January 22. The last case of reported illness was a COVID-19 case on February 6. Rapid implementation of isolation and IPC protocols and interagency communication were temporally associated with declines in reported cases. This response highlights the importance of ongoing adherence to and coordination of IPC measures for outbreak mitigation to protect the health of residents and staff members in shelters established in response to public health emergencies or disasters.
We compare the differences between bacteria in soil affected by a wildfire to an unaffected area from Minnewaska State Park, NY, located in the biodiverse northern Shawangunk Ridge. We detail our metagenomic sequencing data, relative abundance of bacterial phyla, and the taxonomic classification of three MAGs.
The dataset is a spatially and temporally organized curated subset of National Infrared Operations Program real-time high-resolution fire perimeter acquisitions for the Western United States from 2020 to 2024. The U.S. Forest Service's National Infrared Operations is an ordered resource that flies only when requested and prioritized, and which tracks and documents wildfire progression over time. Through a structured data retrieval, consolidation, and metadata curation process, the dataset organizes fire perimeters and associated attributes to facilitate the temporal and spatial reconstruction of fire progression. The resulting shapefile integrates multiple data sources, ensuring spatial standardization to improve interoperability. This resource may be applied in various fields, including fire behavior modeling, fire risk analysis, ecological impact assessment, and resource management. It offers a transparent, replicable workflow and encourages reuse by providing supporting code, enabling researchers, land managers, and policymakers to incorporate these fire perimeters into broader analyses and decision-making processes.