The UC Davis Environmental Health Sciences Center leads cutting-edge wildfire research across California
Combining epidemiology, environmental sampling, and community engagement, EHSC has facilitated multiple studies since 2018 on health effects of wildfires, including a pilot project analyzing smoke’s chemical composition and the impact in vulnerable communities, to WHAT NOW CA — the longest running longitudinal study of wildland urban interface (WUI) fires — which tracks the physical and emotional impacts via air and ash sampling and surveys of Californians about their experiences. These efforts aim to reveal how wildfires—especially those burning in urban and suburban areas—impact public health, while providing the data needed to shape policy and strengthen community resilience.
The WHAT-NOW CA Survey
If you’ve lived through a wildfire, smelled the smoke, or dealt with the aftermath, your story matters. Help us shape the future of wildfire health research by participating in the WHAT-NOW CA Survey. It’s a short, confidential survey for California residents who’ve experienced wildfire-related smoke or disruption. Your responses will help build a healthier, more resilient future for all Californians.
California Wildfire Strategy
This policy brief by Irva Hertz‑Picciotto, PhD proposes dramatically expanding youth Job Corps–style programs—modeled after initiatives like the California Conservation Corps and AmeriCorps—to professionally train teams in hazard fuel reduction, prescribed burns, and forest thinning.
Meet Our Researchers Studying Wildfires From Every Angle
The UC Davis Environmental Health Sciences Center’s wildfire team brings together diverse expertise—from atmospheric chemistry and toxicology to maternal-fetal health and social resilience. Their work thrives on cross-campus and community partnerships, blending lab studies, real-world monitoring, and public health surveys. Meet the multidisciplinary researchers whose collaborations are illuminating wildfire impacts from every angle.
B-SAFE Study: When Smoke Hits Home
The Bio‑Specimen Assessment of Fire Effects (B‑SAFE) Study, led by researchers at UC Davis, enrolled women who were pregnant during or shortly after major California wildfires from 2017 to 2021 to investigate how wildfires affect maternal and newborn health.
A PBS Doc on the Hidden Health Toll of Wildfire Smoke
The fires may be out — but what they leave behind can linger in our lungs, our environment, and our bodies for years. "Waking Up to Wildfires," a PBS ViewFinder documentary, follows scientists at the UC Davis Environmental Health Sciences Center as they investigate the short- and long-term health impacts of wildfire smoke and toxic materials released during the catastrophic 2017 northern California fires. From human exposure to airborne toxins to the effects on surrounding wildlife, this 27-minute film puts the science front and center — and raises urgent questions about what communities face long after the last ember cools.
EHSC Members In the News
UC Davis Environmental Health Sciences Center members are on the frontlines of wildfire science. From smoke exposure to maternal health, their findings are shaping how we respond to climate-driven disasters. Read the latest headlines spotlighting their vital work and expertise.
What Wildfire Survivors Say They Need Most
What do wildfire survivors say they need most in the weeks and months after the flames die down? In this CapRadio interview with Chris Nichols, UC Davis Health epidemiologist Kathryn Conlon, PhD, shares insights from a groundbreaking study that centers survivor voices to inform public health recovery. Hear how science is shaping smarter, more compassionate disaster response.
