The December 2021 Marshall Fire in Boulder County, Colorado, left a devastating impact on the area. New research co-authored by Associate Professor of Geography and IBS Fellow, Colleen Reid, shows the impact of the fire was also felt indoors – via poor air quality. Over half of residents whose homes survived the Marshall Fire reported health symptoms like headaches, sore throats, and unusual tastes. Reid emphasized the potential health impacts for individuals returning to smoke- or ash-damaged homes and the necessity for protective measures. The research also revealed that indoor air quality in some homes was comparable to heavily polluted urban areas, with hazardous gases persisting for weeks. Read more from Lisa Marshall and Nicholas Goda on CU Boulder Today.
