(...) This was an urban conflagration and not just a wildfire event," says Ann Jeffers, a structural engineer and fire expert at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The fires have killed at least 24 people and destroyed more than 12,000 structures. Urban fires differ from wilderness fires, as buildings themselves become fuel for the flames, leading to a rapid spread and significant devastation in densely populated areas.
Researchers say that such urban fires are likely to become more common thanks to population trends and climate change. Scientists are now learning about how exactly urban fires spread and what can be done to prevent them. "There are so many minute physics details here that are important," says Michael Gollner, a mechanical engineer and fire expert at the University of California, Berkeley. Understanding these details is crucial for reducing fire risk in vulnerable communities as they rebuild.
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