Natural Disasters

Fast-moving fires, such as the recent ones in the Los Angeles area, and those started by humans, whether accidentally or not, are often some of the most destructive

Fires can make drinking water, pipes and tanks unsafe. An environmental engineer explains why that’s so and what to do

Wildfires burning in cities unleash a toxic, unpredictable combination of compounds into the air

Wildfires are storming into urban areas more frequently, and toxins in homes and cars are increasing cancer risk for firefighters

The ferocity and scale of the fires that tore through the Los Angeles area become clearer in photographs

President-elect Trump has incorrectly blamed California water management for the destruction from the recent fires in the Los Angeles area

Damages from the recent fires in the Los Angeles area could overwhelm California’s already stressed insurer of last resort

In California and elsewhere, fast-moving fires are particularly damaging and expensive because they take people by surprise, making evacuations difficult

A new study found that flood deaths can rise by 25 percent three months after a disaster

The nature of the Santa Ana winds makes them perfectly suited to fueling blazes like the Palisades Fire, and climate change is increasing the risk

Twenty years ago today a magnetar’s epic tantrum made our planet ring like a bell from tens of thousands of light-years away

As wildfires grow in severity and frequency, they’re not only threatening lives but also our visual connection to the cosmos