Today, wildfires are growing larger and more severe as they burn in the wildland urban interface. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection more than 1 million acres have been burned in California in 2024 alone. Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI) of UL Research Institutes is providing a new website aimed at helping about one-third of the U.S. population living in wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas prepare for the health risks of wildfires. This new site offers up-to-date information that can be used to protect health, homes, and businesses before a fire occurs, with tips on what to do during a fire, and important health guidance for how to handle cleanup and recovery after a WUI fire.
The website, “Clear the Air: Wildfires and Human Health,” provides actionable information to safeguard human health and prepare for the possibility of wildfires in ways that lessen the damage to homes and residents. Visitors can:
- Explore ready-to-use resources such as a Downwind Toolkit.
- Watch videos on understanding WUI fires and what fuels them.
- Print educational handouts on how to clean indoor air while wildfire smoke infiltrates a home.
- Learn how to make a DIY air cleaner to improve indoor air quality and help prevent contaminated air from triggering respiratory distress.
- Discover how to effectively clean settled dust that can remain far after the sky has cleared. This hazardous mixture of particulate matter, dust, and ash can infiltrate buildings and present a potential human health risk.
“The site is particularly timely as we continue to see wildfire dangers even in traditional cold weather months like December,” said Marilyn Black, Ph.D., vice president and senior technical advisor for CIRI. “The “Clear the Air” site and its available resources will help residents deal with the health consequences of California’s Franklin Fire and future fires that threaten our communities.”
CIRI has developed this consensus site with key public health and safety partners in the fields of science, safety, academia, and government including:
American Institute of Architects
American Public Health Association
Center for Climate, Health and Equity
American Society of Interior Designers
Campus Safety, Health, and Environmental Management Association
Duke University School of the Environment
East-West Center
International Facilities Management Association
Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
National Association of School Nurses
National Network of Public Health Institutes
Southeast Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit
FEMA’s U.S. Fire Administration
U.S. Green Building Council
For more information, visit the site at www.wildfirehealthrisks.org.
About Chemical Insights Research Institute
Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI) of UL Research Institutes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to scientific research, publication, education, and communication on environmental exposures resulting from technologies and practices, their impact on human health, and processes for reducing health risks. CIRI provides actionable data and resources to help manufacturers, educators, healthcare providers, and consumers make informed environmental health decisions and risk reduction strategies for the protection of human health.
About UL Research Institutes
UL Research Institutes is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to advancing public safety through scientific discovery. Since 1894, our research has advanced our mission toward a safer, more secure and sustainable future. Focused on global risks from fire mitigation and air quality to safe energy storage and digital privacy, we conduct rigorous independent research, analyze safety data and partner with experts to uncover and act on existing and emerging risks to human safety. Discover more at UL.org.
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