Air quality changes during and after the 2025 Eaton Fire in Los Angeles
The January 2025 wildfires in Los Angeles raised urgent questions about what people were actually breathing as smoke spread across the L.A. basin. In this work, we combine two complementary approaches to answer that question. Using the ASCENT regional monitoring network, we track the real-time elemental composition of fire smoke as it moved downwind, revealing how the chemistry of an urban fire plume differs from typical wildfire smoke. With PHOENIX, a dense sensor network deployed across Altadena after the Eaton fire, we monitor air quality at the neighbourhood scale during cleanup and recovery, capturing localized pollution events. Together, these observations show how large urban fires affect the air people breathe, both during the event and in the weeks and months that followed.
About 9Zero: We are a community of founders, investors, scientists, and innovators who drive climate action together. Through our club, events, and connections, we build relationships and accelerate solutions. If you’re working toward a healthier world, you belong here. Join us - 9Zero.com