Nighttime fire activity is on the rise in the United States: Posing greater risks to firefighters and communities

Abstract

Firefighting crews count on a dampening of fire activity at night, thanks to a temperature drop and rising humidity, for much-needed respite and a chance to regroup for the next day’s efforts. However, a newly published study by Rocky Mountain Research Station fire scientists Patrick Freeborn and Matt Jolly and collaborators has found that the usual nighttime dampening of fire activity may be changing. Using satellite remote-sensing data from the heat-sensitive instrument MODIS, the researchers found that nighttime fire activity has increased as wildfires have grown larger. Understanding the potential for a wildfire to continue burning through the night has important implications for both firefighter safety and impacts to communities.

Citation

Freeborn, Patrick; Jolly, Matt. 2022. Nighttime fire activity is on the rise in the United States: Posing greater risks to firefighters and communities. Science You Can Use (in 5 Minutes), June 2022. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 2 p.