Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice

 

Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice

 

The Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice (Smoke Center) will be a hub for conducting research and sharing information between practitioners, researchers, and communities across Oregon.

 

Community Impact

Wildfire smoke is an increasingly common public health hazard in the United States.

People with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, asthma, the young and elderly, and unhoused populations face increased health risks from smoke. Additionally, those without adequate home air filtration, who are unhoused, or work outdoors can be particularly vulnerable to smoke exposure.

We are using research to assist community and household adaption to living with smoke.

Together, the Smoke Center and its partners will produce actionable ways Oregon communities, local governments and agencies can better prepare for smoke events and support vulnerable populations. Furthermore, these evidence-based approaches and lessons learned can both add to and expand on the existing knowledge and practices across the US West.

Community Impact

Wildfire smoke is an increasingly common public health hazard in the United States.

People with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, asthma, the young and elderly, and unhoused populations face increased health risks from smoke. Additionally, those without adequate home air filtration, who are unhoused, or work outdoors can be particularly vulnerable to smoke exposure.

We are using research to assist community and household adaption to living with smoke.

Together, the Smoke Center and its partners will produce actionable ways Oregon communities, local governments and agencies can better prepare for smoke events and support vulnerable populations. Furthermore, these evidence-based approaches and lessons learned can both add to and expand on the existing knowledge and practices across the US West.

Current Areas of Focus

Three people distributing air filters
Photo credit: Oakridge Air

Oregon Households' Experiences with Smoke

How are households in Oregon experiencing wildfire smoke, seeking information, and preparing for smoke?

Air purifer
Photo credit: Oakridge Air

Smoke Communications

What communication strategies are being used by organizations and agencies for smoke preparation and response?

Smoky sky above grass and path
Photo credit: Jess Downey

Community Smoke Preparation and Response

How effective are community-level preparation and response strategies in Oregon communities during smoke events?

IROCE leaders with Jeff Merkley

Funding Acknowledgement

Oregon's U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden secured the funding for the Smoke Center as a community-initiative project to help ensure Oregon communities are better prepared for wildfire smoke events. The Environmental Protection Agency funding is part of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriation portion of the FY 2022 Consolidated Appropriations Act.

The funding is for three years, from 2023-2026 (EPA-ORD-OSAPE-2022-01).

Read More

News Feed

Withstanding Wildfires
University of Oregon experts lead research and share resources to help contend with the heat, smoke, and hazards of wildfire season.
Wet springs don't always lessen summer fire risk, experts say
Experts at the UO weigh in on wildfire danger, prevention efforts, smoke and more.
The future of fire: Preparing communities and ecosystems
At the University of Oregon, researchers from various fields are studying the effects of wildfire and how to create fire-resilient communities.

More News

Meet The Team

Heidi Huber-Stearns

Associate Research Professor
Director, Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice
she/her/hers

Michael Coughlan

Associate Research Professor
Co-Director, EWP
he/him/his

Jess Downey

Smoke Center Manager
Faculty Researcher, EWP
they/them

Hollie Smith

Associate Professor, School of Journalism and Communication
Associate Director, Center for Science Communication Research
she/her/hers

 

Visit Us

130 Hendricks Hall
Eugene OR 97403