Study: Fires at High Elevations in the Western U.S. Increasing in Intensity, Impact on Region

The Conversation has posted an article discussing a study that found the risk of fire in high mountain regions in the U.S. West has increased and has significant follow-on effects on the environment. Since mountains store large amounts of water in the form of snow, these fires can have major hydrologic and ecological impacts on a region, including snowpack levels, stream sediment levels, and an increased risk of natural disasters such as avalanches or mudslides.

Researchers found the high elevation band of mountains had “gained on average 63 critical fire danger days a year by 2020 compared with 1979,” including 22 days outside of the traditional warm season. This means more intense fires, as high mountain regions are generally cooler and wetter, creating a build up of dead material that burns more intensely and uncontrollably once lit. Read more at The Conversation.