The Los Angeles fires have raised questions about how fires behave. For one: how do some wildfires generate fire whirls, or fire tornadoes? The Department of Fire Protection Engineering conducts research on wildfires that seeks to protect people and property from future fires. James Urban, assistant professor of fire protection engineering, speaks in this Associated Press video about fire whirls, and a recent demonstration of the phenomenon that was conducted in a WPI fire protection engineering laboratory.

Large wildfires like the devastating fires in the Los Angeles area can sometimes develop fire whirls, or fire tornadoes. To help create more understanding about that phenomenon, Assistant Professor James Urban spoke with the Associated Press and helped conduct demonstrations in a WPI Fire Protection Engineering laboratory for an article that explains fire whirls. Urban, other faculty, and students in the Fire Protection Engineering program conduct research on a variety of aspects of wildfires with a goal of improving fire prevention and response.