2021 Marshall Colorado Wildfire
The Marshall Fire was a destructive wildfire and urban conflagration that started on December 30, 2021, shortly after 11:00 a.m. MST, as a grass fire in Boulder County, Colorado. The fire killed two people and became the most destructive fire in Colorado history in terms of buildings destroyed.
Shortly after the fire, GEER mobilized a reconnaissance team led by Assistant Professor Erica Fischer from Oregon State University, Assistant Research Professor Brad Wham, and Associate Professor Shideh Dashti at the University of Colorado Boulder. Over three months (due to the need to wait for the snow to melt), the RAPID staff flew drones to collect high-resolution imagery of the Wildland Urban Interface surrounding the area. The team is examining the effects of topography, proximity to the boundary of the Wildland Urban Interface, building density, and vegetation cover to determine how they may contribute to home destruction during a wildfire.
