7 October 2024
A scientific bounty from Santiago Peak!
The Airport Fire, which ignited in Southern California in September 2024, blazed a destructive path across over 23,000 acres, reaching the summit of Santiago Peak. This wildfire not only consumed vegetation but also damaged critical telecommunications equipment, including infrastructure belonging to the High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network (HPWREN). On September 16th, amidst remaining firefighting efforts, HPWREN received an unexpected email from Rick McRae, an Australian researcher with the Bushfire Research Group at the University of New South Wales. Intrigued by the fire's behavior captured by HPWREN cameras, McRae saw a valuable opportunity to advance his research on fire patterns and firefighter safety.
