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None2021’s Marshall Fire became the most destructive fire in Colorado history, burning nearly 1,000 homes and forcing more than 37,000 residents of Boulder County to evacuate. New research by scientists at the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder found compromised indoor air quality in homes near the burnt area for weeks after the fire, similar to pollution levels recorded in urban Los Angeles in the 1990s. According to the researchers, the findings can help individuals weigh their options when returning home after a fire. In the aftermath of the fire, some residents found their homes burned to the ground. Others, to their relief, found their homes visibly unscathed. Yet they reported unpleasant odors that lingered indoors and found layers of black ash covering many surfaces. In response to community concerns, CIRES scientists responded quickly to research a topic that had never been studied before: indoor air quality immediately following a fire at the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), where human development meets forests and other natural spaces. Ten days after the fire, researchers set up field instruments in a home bordering a block where houses burned to the ground in Superior, Colorado. Winds had blown smoke directly into the home, and residents complained the air inside smelled like a campfire. Will Dresser, lead author and chemistry PhD student at CU Boulder, led the study with CIRES Fellows Joost de Gouw and Christine Wiedinmyer. “No study has, in a real-world environment, gone into an indoor space and looked at indoor smoke impacts so close after a fire event,” Dresser said. Their study, published today in ACS Environmental Science & Technology Air, confirmed what residents were smelling in their homes: Gases harmful to human health were trapped and lingered for weeks following the fire. WUI fires have increased in recent decades, yet research looking at the impacts on air quality following these events is limited. The structures and items that burn in WUI fires — cars, roofs, furniture, and carpets — release different, sometimes more dangerous, volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOC gases were elevated, indicating potential health risks Researchers set up research-grade instruments in the first-floor room of a home next to a block of burned homes. The instruments sampled indoor air continuously for five weeks, measuring over 50 gases. Key findings of the sampling included: The results indicate the home acted like a sponge for VOCs during the fire and slowly returned these pollutants to indoor air afterward. However, the study does not reveal where exactly the VOCs were trapped. “Based on prior research, we had expected these VOCs to disappear from the home within hours, but it took weeks,” de Gouw said. “What this means is we don’t understand very well how and where these chemicals get trapped inside a home.” Ventilation and mitigation help clean air, with caveats The research team also tested ways to mitigate smells and VOC concentrations indoors. First, they opened windows to increase the circulation of indoor and outdoor air. When windows were opened, VOC levels dropped. However, after closing the windows, the VOC concentrations went back up. Next, they constructed home-built air cleaners made of a box fan and pleated air filters with activated carbon. These filters removed VOCs within an hour of starting the fans — but the VOCs rebounded when the fans were turned off, similar to opening windows. Both methods, opening windows and running air cleaners, decreased gases indoors by more than 50 percent. While the research is the first of its kind, it’s important to note the results represent a single house following one WUI fire. Different circumstances — poor outdoor air quality, high winds, or new materials burned in the process — could have different environmental impacts. Looking to the future, scientists predict that WUI fires will increase in speed and frequency, and Dresser notes it’s important to be informed. The study’s results can help residents weigh their options when deciding whether or not to return home following a wildfire. “I think our study brings some numbers and perspective to that story,” Dresser said. “It highlights the importance of these impacts for people returning to areas after these WUI fires.”
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Things to do in metro Detroit, Dec. 27 and beyondAP Business SummaryBrief at 3:59 p.m. ESTOn a chilly December evening in Hatbati village, under the open sky, the air was filled with a sense of nostalgia and excitement. Wrapped in warm shawls and blankets, villagers from Batiaghata upazila in Khulna gathered at the District Satsang Ashram Centre to witness something that many thought was slowly fading away: a Jatra Pala performance. For decades, Jatra Pala -- an elaborate blend of storytelling, music, and dance -- had been a cornerstone of rural Bangladesh's winter celebrations. After the autumn harvest, entire communities would come together to enjoy nightlong performances, losing themselves in tales of history, folklore, and social values. But in recent years, this vibrant tradition had been overshadowed by the rapid rise of technology and changing cultural preferences. This year, however, a glimmer of hope emerged. The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, in collaboration with its Khulna District branch, organised a seven-day Jatra Festival to breathe new life into this nearly forgotten art form. Starting on December 19, the festival transformed Hatbati village into a hub of activity. Each night till December 25, hundreds of spectators, young and old, flocked to the stage. Some brought makeshift stools, while others simply sat on the ground, huddled together to ward off the cold. The performances were nothing short of mesmerising. With expressive dialogues, stirring music, and vibrant costumes, the troupes transported the audience to another world -- one where tradition and creativity thrived hand in hand. "I hadn't seen a Jatra in years," said Tripti Bairagi, a resident of Chak Soilmari village. "People stayed until the very end, even past midnight. That shows how deeply this art form resonates with us. But the venue was too small, and many had to sit on the roadside." Schoolteacher Palash Roy of Khalsibunia village said, "Jatra Pala was once a powerful medium for promoting social harmony. It's heartbreaking to see it fade away due to economic struggles and changing times." While the festival reignited interest in Jatra, it also exposed the challenges of preserving such a rich cultural tradition. Over the past 15 years, administrative restrictions had confined Jatra performances to indoor stages, stripping them of their traditional open-air allure. Many troupes struggled financially, with little to no government support. "Artistes are eager to return to open spaces," said Faiz Zahir, director of the Department of Theater and Film at Shilpakala Academy. "That's where Jatra truly thrives -- accessible to everyone, free from barriers." Shariful Islam Salim, general secretary of Nattyalok in Khulna, said, "The government must step in. Grants and honorariums are essential to keep troupes afloat. Without support, this art form will vanish." On a chilly December evening in Hatbati village, under the open sky, the air was filled with a sense of nostalgia and excitement. Wrapped in warm shawls and blankets, villagers from Batiaghata upazila in Khulna gathered at the District Satsang Ashram Centre to witness something that many thought was slowly fading away: a Jatra Pala performance. For decades, Jatra Pala -- an elaborate blend of storytelling, music, and dance -- had been a cornerstone of rural Bangladesh's winter celebrations. After the autumn harvest, entire communities would come together to enjoy nightlong performances, losing themselves in tales of history, folklore, and social values. But in recent years, this vibrant tradition had been overshadowed by the rapid rise of technology and changing cultural preferences. This year, however, a glimmer of hope emerged. The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, in collaboration with its Khulna District branch, organised a seven-day Jatra Festival to breathe new life into this nearly forgotten art form. Starting on December 19, the festival transformed Hatbati village into a hub of activity. Each night till December 25, hundreds of spectators, young and old, flocked to the stage. Some brought makeshift stools, while others simply sat on the ground, huddled together to ward off the cold. The performances were nothing short of mesmerising. With expressive dialogues, stirring music, and vibrant costumes, the troupes transported the audience to another world -- one where tradition and creativity thrived hand in hand. "I hadn't seen a Jatra in years," said Tripti Bairagi, a resident of Chak Soilmari village. "People stayed until the very end, even past midnight. That shows how deeply this art form resonates with us. But the venue was too small, and many had to sit on the roadside." Schoolteacher Palash Roy of Khalsibunia village said, "Jatra Pala was once a powerful medium for promoting social harmony. It's heartbreaking to see it fade away due to economic struggles and changing times." While the festival reignited interest in Jatra, it also exposed the challenges of preserving such a rich cultural tradition. Over the past 15 years, administrative restrictions had confined Jatra performances to indoor stages, stripping them of their traditional open-air allure. Many troupes struggled financially, with little to no government support. "Artistes are eager to return to open spaces," said Faiz Zahir, director of the Department of Theater and Film at Shilpakala Academy. "That's where Jatra truly thrives -- accessible to everyone, free from barriers." Shariful Islam Salim, general secretary of Nattyalok in Khulna, said, "The government must step in. Grants and honorariums are essential to keep troupes afloat. Without support, this art form will vanish."
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