From Flames to Flow
CWSF · 2026 Environment & Climate Change
Overview
Due to climate change, wildfires are becoming more common. During these fires, planes drop fire retardant. After the fires end, some fire retardant remains on the ground. Where does it go? What happens when it rains? To find out, I tested three types of ground cover: plain soil, soil with grass, and soil with ash. I then poured water over each tray to simulate rain and collected the runoff, measuring how much came out and estimating contaminant concentration using colour intensity and pH. I found that ash-covered soil produced the most runoff, while grass-covered soil produced the least. This suggests that ash-covered soil allows more water and chemicals to flow across it, while plants help soak water in. This is important because it shows that burned vegetation increases the amount of fire retardant washed into water. Restoring vegetation quickly can help protect these ecosystems.
Awards (1)
- Selected for CWSF 2026
Competition history
- CWSF 2026
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