Evacuation and displacement

Scientists at Johns Hopkins and the University of Florida simulate and predict human behavior during wildfire evacuation, allowing for improved planning and safety measures.

The 2025 Eaton Fire was the fifth deadliest and second most destructive wildfire in California history. Those who died had a median age of 77, and at least a third had limited mobility.

This paper presents a case study of an innovative rapid assessment methodology that was developed to identify and prioritise the critical road assets in the vast road network of the Warrumbungle Shire local government area in New South Wales.

From the United States to Korea, from Canada to Türkiye and Greece, the data is clear: wildfires are becoming more frequent, more intense, more widespread, and they are forcing more people from their homes.

From 1980 to 2021, Indigenous communities made up 42 per cent of wildfire evacuations even though they are only five per cent of Canada’s population. The 2023 wildfire season resulted in the evacuation of more than 95 Indigenous communities.

In a study funded by the National Science Foundation, researchers at the University of Alabama developed a new model designed to help communities, living at the intersection of forest and town, develop more effective wildfire evacuation plans.

This story is a part of our Ask a Professor series-breaking down complex issues and use their research to inform trending conversations, from the latest pop culture hits to research breakthroughs and critical global events shaping our world.

This report highlights, that areas like Los Angeles—designated Community Disaster Resilience Zones by FEMA—face disproportionate risks due to economic, environmental, and social vulnerabilities.