OSHER 104 - Fire Weather: The Geology, Ecology, and Chemistry of Fire on Earth

In January of 2025, the wildfires in Los Angeles County burned for two weeks, killed at least 29 people, forced more than 200,000 people to evacuate, and burned more than 18,000 structures. Over 57,000 acres, or 89 square miles of land, larger than the combined land areas of Washington, DC (43,700 acres) and Manhattan, NY (14,600 acres), were destroyed in the worst wildland-urban fire in U.S. history. Why could this tragedy not be stopped? Could a catastrophic fire happen in Utah? What is fire? Why in the whole universe is earth, the watery blue planet teeming with life, the only planet that we know of that has fire? What role has fire played on earth in shaping and devastating the natural and urban landscapes? This course will address these burning questions and more! You are invited to join the teaching team of Alan Eastman, Mark Muir, and Jane Yager using their expertise in chemistry, geology, and ecology as they share what they have learned about Fire Weather on the Blue Planet!