RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP RELATED TO WILDFIRE
Wildfires and Latino Communities: Health, Economic and Preparedness Challenges
UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute
UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge
Wildfires in Los Angeles County have led to disproportionate risks to Latino communities due to pre-existing health vulnerabilities, economic challenges, and systemic gaps in emergency preparedness and health resources.
Wildfire & Water Supply in California
UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
How can California more proactively protect water systems placed at risk by wildfires that have grown in frequency, scale and intensity in recent years? A research and policy agenda developed by interdisciplinary experts.
The Death Toll From Wildfire Smoke
UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
Smoke produced by California wildfires kills far more people than flames do, this research shows. From 2008 to 2018, more than 52,000 premature deaths have been linked to exposure to the smoke’s toxic particles.
L.A. Wildfires: Impacts on Altadena’s Black Community
UCLA Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies
UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge
UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute
The Eaton Fire exposed how decades of segregation and redlining have left Black households more vulnerable, a legacy that should be taken in account in future recovery efforts and allocation of emergency resources.
Critically Assessing the Idea of Wildfire Managed Retreat
Liz Koslov, UCLA Luskin Urban Planning and UCLA Institute on the Environment and Sustainability
Kathryn McConnell, University of British Columbia
Today’s wildfires make clear that “let it burn” is not a realistic or humane response to the destruction of homes and communities, this analysis shows. Instead, greater investment is needed to fortify neighborhoods.
Residents, Workers and Jobs in L.A. County Fire Evacuation Zones
UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute
UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge
At least 35,000 jobs held by Latinos were at risk of temporary or permanent displacement due to the Palisades, Eaton and Hurst wildfires, data show. Among the most vulnerable workers due to their already precarious position in the labor market, Latinos face a greater risk of economic displacement and financial hardship.
Asian American Language Needs in L.A. Wildfires
UCLA Center for Neighborhood Knowledge
UCLA Asian American Studies Center
UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute
AAPI Equity Alliance
With significant language barriers in L.A. County’s Asian American communities, effective communication during disasters remains a critical challenge. Ensuring that all residents receive life-saving information requires culturally and linguistically appropriate action.
Connected Streets Promote Urban Resilience
UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies
McGill University
Neighborhoods with the highest wildfire risk have the least connected streets, marked by dead ends and fewer direct walking routes. But planners can, to some extent, retrofit existing neighborhoods to improve connectivity and safety.
Examining Direct and Indirect Impacts of the L.A. Wildfires on Low-Income Children and Families
Judith Perrigo, UCLA Luskin Social Welfare, and colleagues from the University of Chicago and University of Pennsylvania
As part of a long-term study assessing the impact of guaranteed income on health, financial security, child development and more, researchers will survey participants to understand the fires’ direct and indirect impact on their well-being. A report will follow.
Redefining Expectations for Urban Water Supply Systems to Fight Wildfires
Gregory Pierce, Edith de Guzman and Megan Mullin, UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
Three major implications stemming from the water supply narratives around the Los Angeles fires have emerged: the need for greater infrastructure resilience, considering the uneven costs of new expectations and combating disinformation.
RAPID-RESEARCH PROJECTS
In the wake of the L.A. fires, the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies is funding five rapid-response research projects, with results expected within one to three months. The studies aim to address critical gaps in our region’s emergency response and transportation systems, especially for vulnerable communities.
Understanding mobility challenges for vulnerable communities with limited vehicle access
Tierra Bills, UCLA assistant professor of public policy and civil and environmental engineering, will lead a comprehensive literature and data review intended to better understand the mobility needs of communities with limited access to vehicles. More vulnerable during emergencies, these populations often include those who are low-income, people with disabilities and people with limited English-language proficiency. The project will culminate in a policy brief offering recommendations for more inclusive future emergency evacuation planning.
Improving evacuation plans for transit riders
Madeline Brozen, deputy director of the UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies, will bring her experience studying travel needs of people who depend on public transportation to aid local transit agencies in improving evacuation response plans for transit riders. In partnership with LA Metro, Brozen will conduct a survey targeting L.A. County transit riders to identify gaps in emergency response efforts during and after the 2025 fires. Findings will be compiled into a report, accompanied by a policy brief outlining recommendations for multi-modal evacuation strategies.
Bridging gaps in evacuation and resilience strategies for older adults with disabilities
Older adults and people with disabilities often face physical and cognitive challenges that make emergency evacuations particularly difficult. Yeonsu Song, UCLA assistant professor of nursing and medicine, will lead an interdisciplinary team in creating a research agenda and suite of policy recommendations for improving evacuation and resilience strategies for these populations. Research will focus on identifying gaps and challenges, as well as lay the groundwork for future funding opportunities.
Exploring community-driven approaches to infrastructure rebuilding
Megan Mullin, faculty director of the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation, will spearhead an effort to explore community-driven models for disaster recovery. Drawing on California’s Transformative Climate Communities program, the study will assess strategies for inclusive, neighborhood-scale rebuilding. Findings will be summarized in a final report and policy brief to guide transportation agencies and local governments responsible for the rebuilding process.
Strengthening street network resilience after disasters
Poor street connectivity can create significant safety risks during natural disasters, leading to delayed emergency response times and congested evacuation routes. To explore how cities can use rebuilding efforts to enhance street network resilience, UCLA ITS research consultant John Gahbauer will analyze before-and-after changes to street networks in the aftermath of disasters in California, across the U.S. and internationally. Findings will be summarized in a policy brief with recommendations for cities looking to take proactive measures or those currently engaged in rebuilding efforts.
SEEKING SOLUTIONS AT RESEARCH SUMMIT
On Wednesday, April 16, UCLA Luskin experts in collaboration with community groups and government agencies will share research that can guide the effort toward equitable recovery at the seventh annual UCLA Luskin Summit.
Research and insights will be organized into four tracks:
- Strategies in Rebuilding
- Community Recovery for Vulnerable Populations
- Impacts on Mental and Physical Health
- Climate Risk and Resilience
In addition, this year’s UCLA Quality of Life Index will include L.A. County’s residents’ assessment of the fires’ impact on their lives, attitudes toward rebuilding and ratings of the actions of public figures.
Opening and closing sessions will provide updates on rebuilding efforts and how philanthropy can support collective recovery.
The UCLA Luskin Summit will share the expertise and experience of leaders in Los Angeles and researchers at UCLA so we can restore communities and make them more resilient than before.
OUR EXPERTS IN THE NEWS
Experts from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs are providing context and commentary to news outlets covering Los Angeles’ catastrophic wildfires and the road to recovery. Read more
‘Rather than dream we can retreat our way out of the crisis, we must relearn, and learn anew, how to live with fire.’
— Liz Koslov of UCLA Luskin Urban Planning in the New York Times
‘In terms of finger pointing about what could be done in the future, I think that’s more about how we’ve allowed people to get comfortable and not really anticipate that the climate change stories that we’ve already seen … were going to come to bear here.’
— Greg Pierce of the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation on Today Explained
‘The upshot is that a lot of people who had been housed … have just been thrust into the housing market, and they’re going to push up prices and rents, and also compete for contractors in an already tight labor market to get things rebuilt.’
— Michael Manville of UCLA Luskin Urban Planning in the Commercial Observer
