The Los Angeles wildfires have claimed at least 24 lives and destroyed more than 12,000 structures. While the focus is understandably on avoiding the blaze, there are other immediate dangers lurking within and beyond the county. It’s a smoke that’s even harder to escape.
The most dangerous component of wildfire smoke is particulate pollution, also known as PM2.5 or soot. These tiny particles, smaller than one-twentieth the width of a human hair, can become embedded in the bloodstream and lungs when inhaled. Currently, it is estimated that about one-third of particulate matter pollution in the United States comes from wildfire smoke.
“Wildfire smoke is much more toxic to the lungs than ‘normal’ smoke because of its high concentration of fine particles,” said Don McKenzie, assistant professor at the University of Washington’s School of Environmental and Forest Sciences.
“People with reduced lung function are at higher risk of harm,” he added. “The damage from exposure to all types of smoke is cumulative, but especially in high concentrations of fine particles, which can lodge in small spaces within the lungs.”
It is estimated that air pollution kills approximately 100,000 people each year in the United States. A significant portion of these deaths occur from inhaling smoke from the combustion of fossil fuels, wood, and other materials (including from wildfires), which release toxins into the air.
Wildfire smoke can be harmful to certain people, including people with pre-existing conditions such as asthma and COPD, pregnant people, low-income and unhoused people who may not have access to clean indoor air spaces, and young children. It is especially dangerous for people. The respiratory system is still under development.
“Air Quality Index levels in Los Angeles have reached levels that are known to be dangerous for everyone, but we are particularly concerned about the disproportionate exposure and health effects as a result of wildfire smoke. “We’re concerned about smoke exposure among a small group of people who are more likely to experience it,” said Claire Scholart, a postdoctoral fellow at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health.
In 2023, when smoke from the Canadian wildfires blew into New York City, the city saw a dramatic increase in emergency room visits, many of which were related to asthma attacks.
New York had the advantage of not having to fight fires, so people in need of medical care still had easy access to hospitals. But building fires across Los Angeles have damaged facilities and left staff unable to work, potentially creating difficulties for people in need of urgent medical care.
Joel Kaufman, a professor of environmental health medicine at the University of Washington, explained why wildfires in urban areas like Los Angeles are especially difficult to predict in terms of their impact on air quality.
“What’s a little different about this fire is that we don’t really know the toxicity of the buildings that burned and the fires that had a lot of human-made material,” Kaufman said. “What burns in businesses and all homes is not the same as what burns in bushfires. Some of what is floating in the air may have harmful effects, but it is still very common at the moment. I don’t understand.”
If you have serious symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, or dizziness, it is recommended that you seek medical attention. But officials are encouraging people without emergency symptoms to avoid emergency rooms in order to provide resources for those with severe symptoms.
Los Angeles County and surrounding areas have issued a “no-burn warning,” banning residents from burning wood in fireplaces to reduce the amount of smoke in the air.
Santa Ana’s winds reached up to 110 mph, making it a double-edged sword. Strong winds spread the flames across Los Angeles, but some of the smoke was blown out to sea and away from residential areas.
However, relying on the wind to remove harmful pollution is not a sustainable strategy. Some grassroots organizations have been fighting to clear the air for years. One of those organizations is Mama’s Clean Air Force. It’s a community of more than 1.5 million parents who unite against air and climate pollution to protect the health of their children.
“One of the biggest things we did last year, in a joint effort with other environmental groups, was to make more money available to help people affected by wildfire smoke. “We petitioned Fema to classify fire smoke as a major hazard,” said Elizabeth Bechard, the group’s public health manager.
Experts have found that progress in fighting air pollution is being offset by wildfire smoke. As climate change worsens wildfires, the resulting smoke undermines pollution reductions brought about by the introduction of cleaner energy.
“In addition to the heartbreaking loss of property and destruction to human life, which is clearly our biggest concern at this time, we believe that these wildfires are a setback for years of progress in cleaning Los Angeles’ air.” “We see it as,” Kaufman said. Said. “I’ll be disappointed.”
This article was modified on January 14, 2025. A previous version incorrectly stated that more than 100,000 structures had been destroyed. The actual total is over 12,000.
