CLIMATE CONVERSATIONS

Wildfires Reverse Air Quality Progress

Wildfires have plagued the US and Canada. In California, 2018 was the state’s deadliest fire season with 100 people killed. 2020 showed the most acres (4.3m) scorched. The 2025 Los Angeles fires killed 31 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures. Wildfires create their own ground-level ozone (O3) as they emit carbon monoxide and other gases that contribute to ozone formation, and smoke, spreading hundreds of miles.

A recent study entitled “Fires Reverse Progress Toward Ozone Air Quality Standards in the United States” found that, since 2015, wildfires have undone years of emission reducing efforts. O3 went from decreasing by 0.65 parts per bn (ppb) per year before 2015 to rising 0.13 ppb annually afterwards. In California, the rise in O3 emissions is correlated with some 318 premature deaths/year since 2013.

As climate change led to the conditions responsible for wildfire increases, it makes sense to both ameliorate climate change and actively engage in wildfire prevention. The California Wildfire and Forest Resilience Task Force has just published its five year PLAN that outlines steps for home hardening and prudent forest management.