The more frequent wildfire disasters become, the less time communities will have to recover from each catastrophe. But it can take months for a town’s water to be safe to drink again after a wildfire. That’s why Andrew Whelton, professor of civil engineering and environmental and ecological engineering, has been regularly showing up to wildfires with his students for the past four years to gather water samples. Using these samples, Whelton guides a community on the best way to restore its water systems.