Wildfires are getting larger and increasingly threatening our communities.

These fires can have devastating consequences, including loss of lives, destruction of property, increased levels of dangerous smoke, and damage to the economy. For example, wildfires burning in the Los Angeles area in January 2025 caused 30 direct fatalities and contributed to another 440 deaths. Collectively, the fires scorched more than 50,000 acres and destroyed 20,000 structures with total economic losses of as much as $250 billion.

At NSF NCAR, researchers collaborate with the Earth system science community to develop tools that predict the behavior of wildfires to help firefighters, local authorities, and resource managers direct their efforts more effectively. We  also study the impacts of smoke and how forests recover to help communities be more prepared and resilient.