iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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

❓ Until I lived in Colorado a decade ago, I had never heard of CC, so I imagine you all might have some questions. Ask me anything!

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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

📚 Founded in 1874, General William Jackson Palmer envisioned the institution as a hub for great philosophical and scientific thought. While the first classes consisted of just 25 students (13 men and 12 women), today there are over 2,000 students pursuing 42 majors and 33 minors.

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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

⛰️ CC is a liberal arts college located near downtown Colorado Springs, within the unceded territory of the Núuchi-u (Ute) Peoples. Many campus buildings have spectacular views of Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, and the Manitou Incline.

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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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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 · 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

🔥 My friend, AC Torielli, captured these photos of the #MeridianFire from the air at 4:13 pm (local), and gave me permission to share them here.

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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 · 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.

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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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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

🔥🌲 I don’t think I’ll ever get bored looking at the details in a fire scar.

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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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Krista West, Ph.D. @rsfirenerd.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

❄️🔥 We all need to do what we can to prepare before an ignition occurs, but could this analogy at least provide an explanation regarding the unpredictably of extreme events? (9/9)

Foreground: Snow drifts accumulated around a plant. Background: An area with little-to-no snow.

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