Sustainable Finger Lakes held a webinar on April 8, 2026, “Reducing Wildfire Risk in a Changing Climate”, in response to how wildfires are becoming an increasing threat to public health in the Finger Lakes region. Our panelists of experts shared their insights.
- Professor Flavio Lehner, Cornell Atmospheric Science, noted how fire and smoke risks are changing despite an increase in precipitation overall.
- Professor Alistair Hayden, Cornell Public and Ecosystem Health, discussed how the smoke can affect people’s heart and lung health – citing a survey his team conducted after the June 2023 downwind smoke from more northern fires.
- Christina Rust, the Wildfire Policy Specialist at the National Fire Protection Association, shared how attendees can take precautions now by keeping the “immediate zone” of their homes free of flammable material.
The full webinar can be viewed here.
For more resources, visit our event page.
Check out the full article at TompkinsWeekly.com
