The Science and Effects of Wildfire

Hundreds of ongoing fires in Canada have forced thousands to evacuate their homes and sent smoke to cities across the eastern United States. In 2020, the skies turned orange over the Bay Area, the result of dozens of wildfires scorching California’s forests and threatening the city of Oroville.  

These are not isolated events. Wildfire activity is increasing across North America, driven in part by hotter and drier conditions over the past century. Climate change is exacerbating the issue, increasing the frequency, severity, and extent of area burned by wildfires, and putting more people at risk of exposure to fire itself and to smoke, which can travel thousands of miles and affect the health of millions of people. 

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have a range of resources to help you understand the science behind wildfires, how they can be managed and prepared for, their impacts on health, air quality, and communities, and the connections between climate change and these fires. 

Related Resources 

• Climate Conversations: Wildfire 
• Global Sources of Local Pollution: An Assessment of Long-Range Transport of Key Air Pollutants to and from the United States 
• Frameworks for Protecting Workers and the Public from Inhalation Hazards 
• Wildland Fires: Toward Improved Understanding and Forecasting of Air Quality Impacts 
• Indoor Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter and Practical Mitigation Approaches 
• Implications of the California Wildfires for Health, Communities, and Preparedness 
• The Chemistry of Fires at the Wildland-Urban Interface 
• A Century of Wildland Fire Research: Contributions to Long-Term Approaches for Wildland Fire Management