NC CASC University Director, Jennifer Balch, and Consortium Partner, Phil Higuera at the University of Montana, co-authored an article that was featured in The Conversation on June 30^th. The article, “Skip the fireworks this record-dry 4^th of July, over 150 wildfire scientists urge the US West,” discussed record-dry levels and extreme fire danger that the US West currently faces and the dangers of fireworks on the 4^th of July.

Read the article: https://theconversation.com/skip-the-fireworks-this-record-dry-4th-of-july-over-150-wildfire-scientists-urge-the-us-west-163561

The article was picked up by multiple media outlets, including NPR and USA Today. Below is a list of the media coverage:

NPR: https://www.npr.org/2021/07/01/1012294364/experts-recommend-leaving-the-fireworks-unlit-this-4th-of-july

Colorado Public Radio: https://www.cpr.org/2021/06/30/july-4th-fireworks-wildfire-risk/

Colorado Sun: https://coloradosun.com/2021/07/02/july-4-fireworks-wildfire-drought/

Montana NBC: https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/nearly-120-scientists-sign-letter-urging-people-to-forego-fireworks-this-week

Montana Public Radio: https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/nearly-120-scientists-sign-letter-urging-people-to-forego-fireworks-this-week

Grist: https://grist.org/climate/a-terrible-idea-why-fire-scientists-want-you-to-skip-the-fireworks-this-fourth-of-july/

USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/07/03/fireworks-bans-fireworks-stoke-fear-in-the-west-amid-heatwave/7851930002/

CBS News, Weather on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeatherProf/status/1411835166973206532?s=20

Photo by Rick Bowmer, AP News