News from the Oregon Hazards Lab

The Oregon Hazards Lab runs hundreds of mountaintop cameras that provide firefighters with a new way to spot and track wildfires. In a new video from the University Communications, lab director Doug Toomey and fire officials explain the role of the camera network in early detection and management of wildfires. Video and photos by Chris Larsen.

As wildfires increasingly threaten urban and suburban areas, cities are on the front lines of community protection. OHAZ’s partnerships with local governments enhance the ability of fire
departments, emergency management teams, and other stakeholders to detect and manage fires near residential areas before they grow out of control.

January 26 is the 325th anniversary of the last Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake. Join us at the Art House to watch Rumblings, a documentary that explores the threat of another large earthquake and Oregon’s extensive preparations. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the director and earthquake preparedness specialists.

The quarterly Oregon Hazards Lab newsletter has arrived. The November 2024 edition recaps summer field work, the impacts of wildfire cameras during fire season, the buildout of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, and our partnership with the Rogue Valley Council of Governments.

The frequency and severity of wildfires are rising, driven by climate change, decades of fire suppression, and growth in the wildland-urban interface. But a lab at the University of Oregon has deployed a wildfire intelligence platform that gives counties new tools to spot and track wildfires.

At two earthquake preparedness events associated with the Great Oregon ShakeOut, experts from the Oregon Hazards Lab, the Cascadia Region Earthquake Science Center, and local and state governments shared how Oregonians can prepare for future earthquakes.