Wildfires have spread across Minnesota and southern Canada over recent days due to unseasonably hot weather, strong winds and high levels of drought in the region.
Fires tend to happen in Minnesota in April, according to an analysis from National Interagency Fire Center with May being the second most common month for wildfires. These regions don’t typically experience high fire danger in the summer, but if dry conditions persist, that trend could change.
Currently, the largest fires in the state are the Camp House (11,778 acres), Jenkins Creek (20,593 acres) and Munger Shaw (1,300 acres), all of which are located in St Louis County.
The George Washington University has experts available who can discuss the factors leading to an uptick in wildfires, the impacts they have on communities and the health hazards caused by inhaling smoke. If you would like to schedule an interview, please contact claire [dot] sabin
gwu [dot] edu (claire[dot]sabin[at]gwu[dot]edu).
Caitlin Grady is an associate professor of engineering management and systems engineering. Grady’s research seeks to understand the connection between network models, socio-technical data, and ethical-epistemic analyses to create a more sustainable and secure environment.
Susan Anenberg, is the director of the GW Climate & Health Institute, and professor and Chair of the department of environmental and occupational health. Anenberg’s research focuses on the health implications of air pollution, including smoke from wildfires and climate change. Anenberg can discuss the benefits of staying indoors when air quality is poor and the risk of inhaling pollutants from smoke.
Kate Applebaum is an associate professor in the department of environmental and occupational health. Her research focuses on environmental and occupational exposures influencing the risk of chronic diseases.
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