CERC Science Topic: Fire Science

Fire is a natural and often beneficial process, but fire suppression can lead to more severe fires due to the buildup of vegetation, which creates more fuel. In addition, the secondary effects of wildfires, including erosion, landslides, introduction of invasive species, and changes in water quality, are often more disastrous than the fire itself.

CERC conducts fire science research to meet the varied needs of the fire management community and to understand the role of fire in the landscape. This research includes aquatic studies related to the ecological and toxicological effects of fire-fighting chemicals and suppressants, and aspects of vegetative wildland fuels in oak-hickory forests.
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