How Air Quality Affects Asthmaand What to Do About It
Dirty air, such as that from wildfires, exacerbates asthma symptoms significantly, impacting individuals like Alana Yanez, highlighting the importance of air quality for respiratory health. [ more ]
Majority of Maui wildfire survey participants have respiratory issues
Up to 74% of participants from a University of Hawaii study on Maui's wildfires may have respiratory issues; research aims for long-term impact assessment. [ more ]
The World Is Ignoring the Other Deadly Kind of Carbon
Zombie fires, smoldering underground from last year, reignite in Canadian wilderness, emitting black carbon exceeding 15 megatons monthly by May 16. [ more ]
Wildfire weather is increasing in California and much of the U.S., report finds
Wildfire weather is increasing in frequency in the Western United States due to a combination of heat, dryness, and wind, posing a greater risk for large wildfires. [ more ]
Canada's "zombie" fires are a legacy of record-breaking 2023
Overwintering fires, known as 'zombie' fires, are reemerging due to last year's severe fire season, providing additional ignition sources this spring. [ more ]
Smoke From Climate Crisis-Driven Wildfires in Canada Prompt Air Quality Warnings in US
Long-lasting drought conditions in Western Canada due to the climate crisis have led to mass evacuations and air quality warnings in the US Midwest. [ more ]
The Camp Fire in Butte County in 2018 holds the record for the most destructive wildfire in California history in terms of the number of structures destroyed. [ more ]
Newsom Seeks Faster Track for Home Insurance Rate Hikes as Market Shrinks | KQED
California faces challenges with finding new homeowners insurance policies due to wildfires and inflation, leading to efforts by Gov. Newsom to expedite rate hike reviews. [ more ]
Californians could receive tax breaks on all wildfire-related settlements under recent bills
Bills introduced to exempt Californians from paying taxes on wildfire settlement money have early support from lawmakers.
The proposed bills aim to provide tax relief for all wildfire victims and for settlements related to any natural disaster, but they face challenges due to the state's financial situation. [ more ]
Ontario to increase health coverage for wildland firefighters | CBC News
Ontario extends health coverage to wildland firefighters for cancer, heart, and PTSD, aligning with municipal firefighters. Skin cancer now included with reduced service time. [ more ]
Juxtapoz Magazine - A Conflagration as Depicted in the Works of Alexis Rockman
Alexis Rockman's exhibition 'Conflagration' showcases new works inspired by global wildfires and environmental challenges.
The artist's visual language combines natural history, scientific research, and cinematic landscapes to create a unique and impactful narrative. [ more ]
Love them or loathe them, pinyon-juniper woodlands are a growing biofuel battleground
Pinyon pines and juniper trees are regarded as highly flammable and invasive by ranchers and land managers in the American Southwest.
These trees are being cleared from rangelands to prevent wildfires, but they are also being explored as a source of renewable energy like biofuel. [ more ]
Oregon vineyards are facing the challenge of smoke taint in their wines due to wildfires.
Researchers at Oregon State University are working on spray-on coatings that could protect grapes from the off-flavors caused by wildfire smoke. [ more ]
PG&E penalized $45 million in Dixie fire settlement with CPUC
PG&E will be penalized $45 million for its involvement in the Dixie fire, one of the largest wildfires in California history.
The penalty includes funding for an initiative to transition some of PG&E's records to electronic, improving inspections and preventive maintenance. [ more ]
Public will be at risk if Labour drops 28bn green plan, warns fire union chief
The head of the Fire Brigades Union warns that dropping the plan to spend £28bn a year on green investment will put the public at risk.
Floods, wildfires, and storms are increasing due to climate breakdown, and the fire service is struggling to cope with the rise in extreme weather events. [ more ]
Opinion: California's greenhouse gas emissions are rising - and we're not even counting them all
California has committed to carbon neutrality by 2045, but the state's greenhouse gas emissions increased slightly last year.
California's greenhouse gas inventory excludes emissions from sources like wildfires and industrial sectors, leading to an undercount of overall emissions.
The omission of these emissions has serious consequences, including a greater greenhouse gas footprint and negative impacts on California communities. [ more ]
Book detailing harrowing' impact of wildfires wins Baillie Gifford Prize
John Vaillant's book Fire Weather: A True Story From A Hotter World has won the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction 2023, making it the first book on climate change to receive this honor.
Fire Weather chronicles the devastating wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alberta, in 2016, exploring the impact of these wildfires on a Canadian community and delving into the oil industry and climate science.
The book combines harrowing human stories with scientific research and geo-economics, providing a powerful account of a climate disaster and highlighting our complex relationship with fossil fuels. [ more ]