Study: Wildfire smoke-induced deaths match auto crash fatalities Image By EPN Staff Key Points Stanford researchers estimate wildfire smoke kills about 40,000 Americans per year, comparable to deaths from car crashes or homicides. Although western states see the most fires, drifting smoke increasingly threatens eastern states’ air quality and health. Efforts include proposals for a U.S. Wildland Fire Service, more firefighting resources, public education to reduce ignitions, and forest-management steps like underbrush thinning and prescribed burns. The effects of devastating wildfires can stretch far beyond the scorched landscape, with tens of thousands of Americans dying annually of respiratory illnesses and other diseases linked to toxic smoke from fires that consume open lands and communities, according to a recent study. "We estimate that wildfire smoke over the past decade has killed around 40,000 Americans a year,” one of the study’s authors reported. “That's roughly the same as homicides or vehicle accidents.” Why it matters Wildfires cause billions of dollars in damage in the U.S. annually, and the Stanford research estimates those impacts will increase over the next two decades. While historically associated with western states, wildfires pose a risk to eastern states, too, as demonstrated by drifting smoke from western and Canadian fires. Research has found human-started wildfires account for 84% of all wildfires, with an estimated 97% of fires in Southern California classified as human-started. These fires have fueled longer fire seasons and are more consuming than lightning-started fires. The bigger picture These impacts illustrate advocates’ efforts to raise awareness of forest fires, how to prevent them and how policies can be implemented to manage risks. A coalition of electric companies, businesses and advocacy groups has advocated for a federal strategy to coordinate wildfire management, response and resilience. The Trump administration’s efforts to create a new U.S. Wildland Fire Service within the Department of Interior. Ongoing efforts to reduce ignitions by increasing public awareness of fire risk, educating people about fire safety, and increasing the presence of law enforcement in national parks. Increasing firefighting resources in vulnerable communities. State and community efforts to develop policies and programs to help protect residents and address insurability issues. Thinning underbrush and reintroducing prescribed burning to reduce fuel load. SUGGESTED STORIES Markets, not mandates, to drive national auto policy California’s authority to mandate aggressive zero-emission vehicle sales targets – and effectively shape national auto policy – was revoked under legislation recently approved by bipartisan majorities of Congress. The measure effectively dismantles California’s Advanced Clean Cars Read more As wildfire risks grow, utilities and industry push for solutions A broad new coalition will push for more federal action to prevent wildfires, arguing that the problem calls for a coordinated national strategy. Partners in Wildfire Prevention includes utility and business associations, public safety groups and a range of community interest groups Read more Taxpayers are funding NGOs’ partisan activism Americans are proud of our nonprofit sector, which has long led the world, because they love real charities that actually help people here and abroad. They don’t think of the nonprofit sector as the plaything of billionaires and politicians. Yet all too often, that is the re Read more
Markets, not mandates, to drive national auto policy California’s authority to mandate aggressive zero-emission vehicle sales targets – and effectively shape national auto policy – was revoked under legislation recently approved by bipartisan majorities of Congress. The measure effectively dismantles California’s Advanced Clean Cars Read more
As wildfire risks grow, utilities and industry push for solutions A broad new coalition will push for more federal action to prevent wildfires, arguing that the problem calls for a coordinated national strategy. Partners in Wildfire Prevention includes utility and business associations, public safety groups and a range of community interest groups Read more
Taxpayers are funding NGOs’ partisan activism Americans are proud of our nonprofit sector, which has long led the world, because they love real charities that actually help people here and abroad. They don’t think of the nonprofit sector as the plaything of billionaires and politicians. Yet all too often, that is the re Read more
