The wildfires in Northern Ontario demonstrate how climate change is making wildfires bigger, more intense and more frequent than in the past. Sometimes called megafires, they can create separate weather systems, such as high winds, thunderstorms and tornados, making it increasingly dangerous for firefighters.
Associate professor Eric Kennedy says experts take a strategic approach when dealing with fires of this scale because there is no completely safe way to fight them. When conditions become too dangerous for firefighters, resources are redirected to areas where they can have the greatest impact. Fire behaviour is continuously assessed to determine whether crews should respond from the ground or the air.
Eric Kennedy received his PhD from Arizona State University and is currently an associate professor in the Disaster & Emergency Management program at York University. His research interests include emergency management, forestry, wildfire management, science policy, science and technology studies and COVID.
Read the full article in the Toronto Star.