Jen Pierce, a professor in the Department of Geosciences, recently appeared on Boise news channel KBOI to discuss the wildfires still burning in the Los Angeles, California, area.
Pierce spoke about the fires’ causes, including prolonged dry conditions and the Santa Ana winds. She also discussed similarities between conditions in California and Idaho, which saw its own outbreak of urban fires in the summer of 2024; the unique dangers accompanying urban fires; how Idahoans can prepare for fires; and what we can expect to see in the future.
Pierce specializes in climate science education and the interaction between wildfires and climate change. In fall 2024, she took part in field research studying debris flows following the Wapiti Fire.