Wildfires

Marshall Together, a grassroots nonprofit created by survivors of the devastating Colorado wildfire, are sharing advice and raising funds to assist those affected by the fires in L.A.

That decision by the Department of Labor was based on a review of evidence that concluded that “female firefighters, more likely than not, face heightened risks for breast, uterine and ovarian cancers… due to the toxic exposures they face in their work.”

The news cycle hit a fever pitch in 2024 with the election, and some big stories in Colorado, such as wildfires and the long-awaited verdict in the Boulder King Soopers mass shooting. But those weren't the only events providing the most powerful moments on In The NoCo this year.

Wildland firefighters and their advocates pushed hard for permanent pay raises before Congress’ holiday recess. What firefighters got instead was yet another last-minute extension of temporary raises.

Researchers pored over roughly four dozen papers that assessed exposure to various carcinogens on the fireline. They identified 31 carcinogens – including asbestos, volatile organic compounds like benzene and crystalline silica.

Researchers were looking at PM 2.5 pollution, made up of particles with diameters at least 30 times smaller than human hair. They found that for every additional microgram from wildfires per cubic meter of air on average over rolling 3-year periods, patients faced an 18% increase in the odds of a dementia diagnosis. The figure for non-wildfire PM 2.5 was just 1%.

Wildfires are often talked about in terms of the acres they burn, or the number of structures they destroy. New research is bringing attention to their speed – and evidence that they’re accelerating.

When a natural disaster forces people to evacuate, not everyone gets the message – or is physically or financially able to get out of harm’s way. On today's In The NoCo, we talk with a researcher who studies how communication during emergencies works... and how it can be improved to help keep people safe.

For 10 straight days this month, the country was at a preparedness level of 5 (PL5), the highest on the scale used to measure wildfire activity and resource availability. Since 1990, there is only a single past instance of a PL5 day in October, which came in 2020.

Recent research from Colorado State University shows that plants will pause photosynthesis in smoky and polluted environments.