Speaker: Dr. Erica Smithwick, Pennsylvania State University
In 2024 and 2025, thousands of wildfires burned in novel settings across the East, including unprecedented fires in populated regions like Long Island, New York, Massachusetts, and the Carolinas. While fires in the East have been considered rare, intensifying drought combined with limited preparedness could portend significant vulnerabilities in the future. Comparing wildfires in the West to wildland fire management in the East, this talk will explore the environmental, social, and governance research frontiers in understanding this region's potential risk.
