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Just six months after the devastating Palisades, Eaton and Hurst Fires that swept across Los Angeles, and a month after the shocking Oakdale Fire right here in Yolo County, it’s increasingly clear that the threat of wildfires is real — and growing.

In 2024 alone, California experienced over that burned more than a million acres, an area roughly the size of Rhode Island, across the state. These fires inflicted a on government budgets, health, and the economy — from tourism to agriculture. The 2025 Los Angeles fires alone are projected to generate as much as .

We’ve felt the direct impacts of wildfires here in Davis over the years. In 2018, the university closed for more than a week because of hazardous smoke from the Camp Fire, and our dedicated UC Davis firefighters worked tirelessly to battle the blaze. Our School of Veterinary Medicine also opened its doors to help shelter animals.

In Yolo County, the danger of wildfires is very real and too close to home, with over considered “very high” or “high” risk zones for fire.

To help address these risks, UC Davis experts actively work on wildfire management and reduction strategies with local organizations and partners.

Our fire ecology researchers help monitor the outcomes of prescribed burns to reduce the intensity of wildfire. As part of the statewide Prescribed Fire Monitoring Program, they observe how vegetation changes, measure fuel reduction, and note ecological benefits following fires. The valuable data they collect in Yolo County and other regions helps land managers improve their practices, making them safer and more effective.

Assistant Professor Emily Schlickman is dedicated researchers on the ground. She’s taken her commitment to wildfire management one step further by completing certification as a member of a prescribed fire crew. With her expertise, she’s been involved in reducing flammable materials that spark fires in Yolo County.

UC Davis researchers actively participate in the Yolo County Climate Action Commission advisory groups. Their expertise in fire ecology and climate adaptation shapes local policy, advising on strategies like fuel breaks, grazing for fuel management and resilient building standards.

Our efforts don’t just impact the local area; they reach across the state. We work with partners as a key member of the . The statewide network of scientists includes federal, tribal, state, local, and private stakeholders, where we share the latest wildfire science and develop collaborative strategies to ensure a collective response.

The at UC Davis collaborates with Cal Fire to develop long-term research assessing the impact of prescribed fires on everything from air quality to reducing fuel in forests. This research is crucial in understanding the long-term effects of prescribed fires and how they can be used as a preventive measure against wildfires.  

And whether it is the California Veterinary Emergency Team from our School of Veterinary Medicine during wildfire events, UC Davis Health providing for survivors of fires or our Fire Department to help across the state from Siskiyou to Los Angeles counties, UC Davis is actively involved in supporting many communities in crisis.

We’re not just responding to wildfires but pioneering cutting-edge research to make these disasters less destructive.

For example, an engineering team is developing a network of sensors designed to detect changes in the chemical composition of the air, allowing . This early detection can give firefighters enough time to act before fires become uncontrollable.

This research and our ongoing efforts reflect the university’s commitment to being an active partner across the region. Protecting our forests, agricultural resources that power our economy, the safety of our homes and businesses, and the health of our families is an effort that unites us all.

Finally, as Smokey Bear reminds us, we all can prevent wildfires. UC Davis Interim Fire Chief Nathaniel Hartinger, whose team has been busy tackling grass fires in the area, encourages small but important actions that can significantly reduce the risk of a spark setting off the start of a fire. For instance, a simple decision like mowing our lawns in the morning on cooler and more humid days — with a fire extinguisher nearby — can dramatically reduce the chance of inadvertently causing a fire.

Wildfire prevention is a community effort. It relies on the bravery of firefighters, the expertise of researchers, and the involvement of each of us to minimize risks.

I know that our experienced team at UC Davis is dedicated to protecting our communities.