Wildfire smoke is predicted to become a regular concern for much of the continental United States.
The summer of 2023 was notable not only for its record-breaking heat but also for the intense wildfire smoke. For the first time in many people’s memory, entire swaths of the continental United States were inundated with air quality alerts and a thick orange haze. As climate change continues to intensify, experts predict that this may become a more regular occurrence.
The National Bureau of Economic Research estimates that wildfire smoke can potentially cause as many as 27,800 U.S. deaths per year by 2050, and cost approximately $244 billion annually. For 2023, the major source of wildfire smoke was from Canada, but as the climate becomes warmer and dryer, US forests are also put at great risk. While the West Coast is more familiar with severe wildfire events, they will become a more frequent phenomenon nationally.
Congress is currently debating two bills to help better prepare the nation for severe wildfire emergencies. The Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act would authorize the President to declare a smoke emergency and provide emergency assistance to affected communities under specified circumstances. The Smoke and Heat Ready Communities Act would authorize the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants to air pollution control agencies to support the development and implementation of programs that support local communities in detecting, preparing for, communicating with the public about, or mitigating the environmental and public health aspects of wildfire smoke.
AirNow App
In response to increasing instances of air quality issues nationally, the EPA has developed the AirNow app, which provides users with a one-stop source for air quality data. The app is a partnership between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Park Service (NPS), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and tribal, state (including the Maryland Department of the Environment – MDE), and local air quality agencies. The app can be downloaded to your smartphone by searching AirNow or can be accessed online at https://www.airnow.gov/.
