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What we work on

Housed within Earth Lab and the Environmental Data Science Innovation & Impact Lab (ESIIL) in the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder, we address critical questions at the intersection of fire science, ecosystem resilience, and data analytics. Our research focuses on high-intensity, fast-moving wildfires and those occurring in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) - fires that pose the greatest risks to both natural systems and human communities.

How we do it

By integrating cutting-edge remote sensing, geospatial analysis, machine learning, and other artificial intelligence tools, we aim to deepen scientific understanding and inform evidence-based fire management strategies. Through collaboration across academia, government agencies, and industry, we work to bridge research and real-world applications, helping to build resilience in fire-prone landscapes.
Learn more about our research, see what we've been publishing, and view our open data products below.

Latest news & highlights

Dr. Jennifer Balch featured on Colorado Public Radio

Tuesday, June 10, 2025
The Marshall Fire burned over 1,000 structures in Louisville, Superior, and unincorporated Boulder County in December 20...

The 2020 East Troublesome Fire: What may have happened if there had been one more windy day?

Thursday, April 24, 2025
Wildfire burned area and severity have been increasing in the Western United States since the 1980s. In Colorado, wildfi...

Congratulations to Dr. Max Cook!

Thursday, April 03, 2025
Balch Fire Lab member Max Cook has officially defended his dissertation and earned his PhD! His research sheds new light...

Thank you to our funders!