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Krista West, Ph.D.

@rsfirenerd.bsky.social
1.1K followers 1.4K following 163 posts

🔥🗺️ Pyrogeographer. 🛰️🛩️🔥 #RemoteSensing of #Wildfire. ❤️🚒 Passionate about finding ways to help emergency responders. 📣 #SciComm 👩‍💻 www.kristaleewest.com 📍 Colorado, USA

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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
🔥📝 I'm ecstatic to share that the third and final paper from my dissertation was recently published in the International Journal of Wildland Fire (IJWF). A HUGE thank you to my co-authors for helping me reach this milestone. It's open-access, so give it a read! doi.org/10.1071/WF26...
connectsci.au
Association of herbaceous fractional cover and wildfire ignition in Mediterranean-type ecosystems
Using satellite imagery, we found that the largest percentage of wildfire ignitions in Southern California Mediterranean-type chaparral ecosystems increasi
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
🗺️🔥 For obvious reasons, this is my favorite space on the @coloradocollege.bsky.social campus. Not only do we have a dedicated map room, but the current collection on display - “Orange Skies” - includes photographs of wildland fires. #ColoradoCollege #StateOfTheRockies #TheOrangeSkiesProject
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
📣 Professional Pivot: I recently began a new role as Director of the Spatial Literacy Center at Colorado College (CC). @coloradocollege.bsky.social
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
🔥🤓 I'm proud to serve as a Neighborhood Champion with the CSFD Wildfire Mitigation Team. I love educating our community on wildfire preparedness, especially on the east side of town. Thanks to Noah Caplan and KOAA News5 for the feature! www.koaa.com/news/local-n...
koaa.com
Eastern Colorado Springs homeowners prep for possible high fire risks from neighboring prairies
Despite much-needed moisture in the Pikes Peak region Thursday, warm and dry temperatures expected this weekend will likely keep fire risks high throughout El Paso County.
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
👩‍🏫 (1/3) I'm thrilled to kick off the inaugural remote and asynchronous session of Advanced Remote Sensing & Imagery Analysis (RS II) for the ASU School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning today! 🛰️
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
😯 I’m intrigued, @bsky.app
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 09/12/2025
👩‍🎓 Two years ago today. Time flies when you’re having fun. 😁
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
😍 I unexpectedly had a chance to see the aurora borealis last night. It’s been a lifetime bucket list item for me to view it, so it was pretty amazing to be able to do so from Colorado. #ColorfulColorado
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 15/10/2025
👩‍🏫 Today is my 1st day teaching a course I built - Intro to #RemoteSensing - at @arizonastateuni.bsky.social. I appreciated the opportunity to build this new class & I look forward to working with the first group of students. A huge thank you to my ASU colleagues & the people who helped me get here.
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
🐶 Abby wants to wish you a Happy #NationalDogDay. Share a picture of your pup with us.
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 09/08/2025
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 15 of the #FirePrepFriday series. Does your community offer educational events to help you prepare for wildfire? I attended a CSFD Living with Wildfire meeting this week, and it was excellent. I was also interviewed by KOAA News5: www.koaa.com/news/wildfir...
koaa.com
A different kind of fire: new town hall series gets East Colorado Springs ready for wildfires
The Colorado Springs Fire Department introduces the concept of Prairie Land Urban Interface (PUI) to educate east side residents about unique grassland fire risks and safety measures.
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 04/08/2025
📸 I decided it’s time for a #NewProfilePic. #Pyrogeographer
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 14 of the #FirePrepFriday series. We discussed how to prepare for fire and how to react to an evacuation alert, but do you know what to do if you’re the first one to identify an ignition that could potentially result in a wildfire?
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 13 of the #FirePrepFriday series. We reached the last of the Six P’s of Evacuation - “Plastic” and Cash. Figure out the best way to have money available when it’s time to evacuate. Check the blog for more: kristaleewest.com/fireprepfriday.html
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 12 of the #FirePrepFriday series. Consider the fifth of the Six P’s of Evacuation - Personal Computer, Hard Drive, and Disks. Check out the associated blog post and let me know how you plan to tackle this one: kristaleewest.com/fireprepfriday.html
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 11 of the #FirePrepFriday series. Take time to think about the fourth of the Six P’s of Evacuation - Pictures and Irreplaceable Memorabilia. Visit my website for the associated blog post and tell me what inanimate item you refuse to leave behind: kristaleewest.com/fireprepfriday.html
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 16/06/2025
📄 Please tell me: What are your favorite #RemoteSensing papers and articles from scientific journals?
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 10 of the #FirePrepFriday series. This week, work on the third of the Six P’s of Evacuation - Prescriptions, Vitamins, and Eyeglasses. Visit my website for the associated blog post and let me know how you handle this task: kristaleewest.com/fireprepfriday.html
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 9 of the #FirePrepFriday series. This week, focus on the second of the Six P’s of Evacuation - Papers, Phone Numbers, & Important Documents. 🗓️🔥 Visit my website for the associated blog post with more info and links with resources: kristaleewest.com/fireprepfriday.html
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 04/06/2025
🔥🏃🏼‍♀️ I participated in the virtual Fireline 5K on Global Running Day. Thank you, wildland firefighters, for all that you do! #Fireline5K #GlobalRunningDay #InternationalAssociationOfWildlandFire #IAWF #NationalWildlandFirefighterDay #NWFFD
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 30/05/2025
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 8 of the #FirePrepFriday series. We’ll work through the Six P’s of Evacuation over the next six weeks. This week, we’ll tackle the first P - People & Pets. Visit my website for the associated blog post with more info and links with resources: kristaleewest.com/fireprepfriday.html
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 14/05/2025
📚🔥🛰️ I am proud to announce that my two companion articles using #Landsat data and #RemoteSensing methods to quantify fractional herbaceous cover in #wildfire-prone Mediterranean-type ecosystems are now published in the International Journal of Remote Sensing.
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
🗓️🔥 It's Week 7 of the #FirePrepFriday series. May is #WildfireAwarenessMonth and, since #WildfirePrepDay2025 was May 3rd, what better way to keep the activities going than to learn what to do around the house during the pre-evacuation stage?
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
👩‍🏫 I’m developing a final project for a geospatial science course, and I’m curious to learn… Geo Educators: Do your students complete a written report, ArcGIS StoryMap, poster, or an oral (recorded) presentation? (Something else? Do you do different submission types for intro vs. advanced courses?)
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 02/05/2025
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 6 of the #FirePrepFriday series. This week, update your Get Home Bag. This is the bag you keep in your vehicle (or outside the house) in case there’s an emergency when you’re away and need supplies to help you safely get home.
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
🙅‍♀️🔥 What is the best brand for ember-resistant vents?
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 25/04/2025
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 5 of the #FirePrepFriday series. Get your neighbors involved! That’s it. That’s the task. Of course, for more details, resources, tips, and links, visit my website: www.kristaleewest.com/fireprepfrid...
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 4 of our #FirePrepFriday series. This week, evaluate the defensible space within 0-5 feet of your structure — also known as Zone 0. For more details, resources, tips, and links, visit my website: www.kristaleewest.com/fireprepfrid...
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 3 of our #FirePrepFriday series. This week, identify emergency evacuation routes and shelter locations. - Mark these on a paper map. - Add them as pins in your map apps. - Practice! For more details, tips, and links, please visit my website: www.kristaleewest.com/fireprepfrid...
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 04/04/2025
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 2 of our #FirePrepFriday series. This week, create a Go Bag for your pet(s). I started writing blog posts to accompany each week’s tasks, so please visit my website to read more details and find links to additional resources. www.kristaleewest.com/fireprepfrid...
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
🗓️🔥 It’s Week 1 of our #FirePrepFriday series. This week, check that you’re following the social media accounts that will provide you with the information you need in case of emergency.
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 21/03/2025
🗓️🔥 I have a confession: I, RSFireNerd, need to do more to personally prepare for #wildfire. One year ago, I watched a wind-driven grass fire from my house. Am I better prepared now than I was a year ago? Not really. I will embark on a weekly fire prep journey. #FirePrepFriday
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
🗺️👩‍🏫 I’m excited to announce that I’m adding another tool to my professional toolbox — online teaching. I joined @arizonastateuni.bsky.social’s School of Geographical Sciences and Urban Planning (SGSUP) as an Affiliate Faculty member and I begin teaching an Introductory #GIS course today.
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 13/03/2025
🔥 It’s been just over 1 year since I watched the Mar 10, 2024 Marksheffel Fire, and today the #MeridianFire ignited in the same area. Like last March, we have a #RedFlagWarning - the temperature in my location is 57F, but the humidity is 16%, and winds are 13 mph (21 mph gusts).
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
🤷‍♀️ Even though I set up Bluesky to allow notifications on my Home Screen (in the form of badges), I still don’t regularly receive a badge. Is anyone else experiencing the same thing? I don’t want to miss any more notifications.
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 09/03/2025
🚭 ‘Tis the season to test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Happy #DaylightSavingTime!
media.tenor.com
a minion with a flashlight on his head is standing in front of a red chair .
ALT: a minion with a flashlight on his head is standing in front of a red chair .
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 08/03/2025
👩‍💻👩‍🚒👩‍🏫 Happy #InternationalWomensDay to all of the bada$$es who paved the way and continue to lead and teach the rest of us. In my field, I’m particularly appreciative of the female remote sensing scientists, wildland firefighters, and educators. Thank you!
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 22/02/2025
🔥🌴 In Oct 2024, I observed the 75+ palm trees that burned during the Sep 28, 2022 lightning-caused wildfire in Agua Caliente Park (Tucson, AZ). The park has done a great job with restoration in those two years since the fire. Check out the interesting burn patterns on the trees. #FireScarFriday
Photos of palm trees in Agua Caliente Park (Tucson, AZ) taken on October 26, 2024. The trees burned during a lightning-caused fire on September 28, 2022.

Trees in the foreground are backlit by the setting sun. In the background is the park’s water feature.Photos of palm trees in Agua Caliente Park (Tucson, AZ) taken on October 26, 2024. The trees burned during a lightning-caused fire on September 28, 2022.

Looking up into the canopy of palm trees from the ground. The charred trunks are visible.Photos of palm trees in Agua Caliente Park (Tucson, AZ) taken on October 26, 2024. The trees burned during a lightning-caused fire on September 28, 2022.

The middle of this photo has a tree where one half of the trunk is burned and the other half is not.Photos of palm trees in Agua Caliente Park (Tucson, AZ) taken on October 26, 2024. The trees burned during a lightning-caused fire on September 28, 2022.

A close-up of the cortex/husk of a palm tree that charred.
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 09/02/2025
🔥 On this day, four years ago, I had the opportunity to observe a prescribed burn in San Diego County, CA. I watched the speed at which different fuel types burned, and asked a lot of questions about burn severity and intensity in Mediterranean-type coastal shrubland ecosystems.
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Reposted by Krista West, Ph.D.
Emily Dolhansky @emilydolhansky.bsky.social · 08/02/2025
🔥🤲🏼🌲 Hey fire folks! I created a Starter Pack featuring people from OG Fire Twitter. Let me know if I missed anyone obvious, or if you would like to be removed for any reason: go.bsky.app/6tRKijP
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 07/02/2025
🔥🌲 I always take pictures of fire scars, but I also always manage to forget to share them when #FireScarFriday rolls around. That ends today! Here’s a tree within the Great Sand Dunes NP (Colorado, USA) boundary. My educated guess is that it burned during the lightning-caused May 2022 Medano Fire.
Foreground: A scraggly tree with a wildfire-caused burn/fire scar. Background: The dunes of Great Sand Dunes National Park.Foreground: A scraggly tree with a wildfire-caused burn/fire scar. Background: The dunes of Great Sand Dunes National Park and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
🏃‍♀️ Happy National Girls & Women in Sports Day! I’m thankful for all that I learned about myself (and life) while playing sports, and I use a lot of the skills I acquired to this day. Did you play sports growing up? Did that time have a positive impact on your life? #NGWSD2025
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Reposted by Krista West, Ph.D.
John V Hurley @jvh-h2oclimate.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
Happy Black History Month Dr. Gladys West (1930-2024) helped innovate the Global Positioning System through her calculations on the shape of the Earth and the satellite-observation-based geodesy models. #BlackHistoryMonth #EarthScience
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
🌎🌍🌏 Follow all of the European Space Agency accounts. 👇
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 04/02/2025
🔥🔭🌲 What is something you want to try that connects your professional and personal worlds? I would love to stay in a fire lookout tower. firelookout.org
firelookout.org
Preserving the Legacy of Fire Lookouts - Forest Fire Lookout Association
Founded in 1990, the Forest Fire Lookout Association is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of wildland fire lookouts and their legacy. Through its chapters and members, F...
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 30/01/2025
💙🦋 Thank you to everyone who has already reached out, connected, and shared starter packs with me. It is wonderful to reconnect with so many of you on Bluesky, and to meet new people. Please keep the connections and recommendations coming!
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
🔥🛰️ Bluesky algorithm: Please connect me with anyone who is interested in… 🛰️ Remote sensing 🖥️ Imagery analysis 🗺️ Geospatial Information Science (GIS) 🔥 Wildfire 🌾 Landscape ecology 🐐 Wildfire mitigation 🎒 Wildfire preparation 🌱 Wildfire recovery 🚩 Red Flag weather 🎤 Science communication & education
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 29/01/2025
👯‍♀️ I kid you not… four times this month I met someone for the first time and the first thing they said was “I know I know you from somewhere.” Each time, we ran down the list of possibilities and, in fact, did not know each other. Who is my doppelgänger??
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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
❄️🔥🧵 Like many of you, I continue to monitor the status of the fires in Southern California and I continue to feel heartbroken for those who have experienced losses. (1/9)
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