May 11, 2026 Building Density, Not Trees, Was Strongest Predictor of Home Loss in Los Angeles Firestorms, Finds New Cal Poly Study (opens in new tab)

Contact: Reed Kenny | 707-601-1596, rekenny@calpoly.edu Research by Cal Poly and Urban Forest Institute scientists challenges assumptions about urban trees fueling wildfire destruction from the deadly 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires; study suggests policymakers should be cautious about removing valuable urban canopy without stronger evidence that trees are major drivers of home destruction in dense urban firestorms SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. — A new peer-reviewed study by Cal Poly faculty and sci...