The Effects of Record Wildfires

Photo+Courtesy+of+The+Guardian

Photo Courtesy of The Guardian

Ashley Hatt

Wildfires have been occurring for a while now, but lately, there has been a great increase in the amount. These wildfires are increasing rapidly throughout the western parts of the United States, because of climate change, affecting many people, through damaging houses and businesses.

When the accumulation of dead leaves and trees create heat, wildfires are formed. When an excess amount of heat is created, these leaves and trees catch on fire very spontaneously, and the area around it all quickly becomes engulfed. Lightning strikes are also another great cause of wildfires. 

Because of the recent climate change, there has been an increased amount of droughts and heatwaves throughout the world, causing a greater number of wildfires. With the increased amount of wildfires lately, there has been a lot of harm to humans in the surrounding area. The smoke occurring from wildfires is very harmful, containing soot and carbon monoxide. Any amount of this entering the crevices of lungs or entering the bloodstream can cause damage.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people die prematurely because of wildfires. It’s not necessarily dying from burns, but instead because of smoke inhalation. Wildfire heat is one of the most harmful forms of pollution existing in the air.

Everyone is at risk for smoke inhalation, which can make it hard to breathe, and pregnant women and people with asthma and COPD are at greater risk. The smoke in the air can affect many parts of your body, which include:

 -eyes 

-nose

-throat

-lungs

In an interview with Lori Hatt, she explains her friend’s experience. She states “Wildfires can be very scary and cause a lot of harm to people. I haven’t personally experienced the effects of wildfires, but I have a friend who used to live in California, and she posted pictures of the nearby fires, and stories about the surrounding area. It was a very scary experience for her, and they are very dangerous to be around”. 

When staying in an area with heavy smoke, stay in an enclosed room, and use an air cleaner to filter around the smoky air. If it is necessary to go outside, it is important to correctly wear a respiratory mask. If in the area where the wildfire is expected to hit, make an evacuation plan, and follow if necessary. These are a few ways to ensure safety during a wildfire, which is very important.