{"id":180204,"date":"2022-08-23T03:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-08-23T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=180204"},"modified":"2022-09-13T12:35:32","modified_gmt":"2022-09-13T19:35:32","slug":"wildfire-smoke-and-life-outdoors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/camp\/wildfire-smoke-and-life-outdoors","title":{"rendered":"Where There’s Smoke: How Wildfire Smoke Is Affecting Life Outdoors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When I returned to rainy Oregon after years of breathing in the soupy air of Delhi, India\u2019s most polluted city, I assumed my days of blasting purifiers indoors<\/mark> and wearing filtration masks outdoors were long behind me. Yet last August, at a roadside viewpoint in<\/mark> Oregon\u2019s Crater Lake National Park, I found myself peering into the caldera where plumes of smoke obscured the characteristic blue pool. I could have just as easily been standing in front of a gargantuan pit mine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a Pacific Northwesterner, I\u2019ve traditionally approached seasons dichotomously. There\u2019s summer, a few months characterized by blue sky and warm temperatures. Then there\u2019s the chilly \u201crest of the year\u201d\u2014month after month of grey skies peppered with alternating drizzle and full-blown rain. Many of us in the PNW use this period of repose to plot out the perfect summer adventures of waking up before dawn to snag wilderness permits and campsite reservations the moment they are released. But over the past few years, we\u2019ve seen a third period shoehorned between warm and rainy: fire season.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Things in Oregon got particularly bad in September 2020, when smoke billowed so thick that it transformed the late-summer sun into a dull, egg-yolk-hued blob. I recognized the scene from my Delhi days, when annual slash-and-burn practices in the surrounding plains brought with them months of nose-tingling smog. It wasn\u2019t supposed to be like this in Oregon. Yet on September 11, 2020<\/a>, the air quality index (AQI<\/a>) in Portland<\/a>, my hometown, was the highest in the world, followed by San Francisco and Seattle. Delhi ranked fifth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smoke and the Ecosystem<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While wildfires have always been an integral part of the ecosystem, climate change appears to have brought longer wildfire seasons and larger fires<\/a>. <\/strong>It\u2019s a trend that is predicted to snowball in the years ahead, particularly if governments around the world\u2014namely those in major-player developed countries like the United States\u2014don\u2019t take serious and immediate action. A recent United Nations Environment Programme report<\/a> puts it best: \u201cNot only can wildfires reduce biodiversity, but they contribute to a climate change feedback loop by emitting huge quantities of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, spurring more warming, more drying, and more burning.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

O<\/mark>ne by-product of more intense fires is more intense smoke. Wildfire smoke is largely made up of particle pollution, also known as particulate matter (PM). In fact, about 90% of wildfire smoke comprises fine particles (i.e., those <2.5 microns in diameter or \u201cPM2.5\u201d), which are small enough for humans and animals to inhale. Inhaling these particles puts people at greater risk of respiratory and cardiovascular issues<\/a>, and even death. In fact, exposure to smoke from landscape fires is estimated to be responsible for around 339,000 deaths per year worldwide<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers have found<\/a> that exposure to wildfire smoke not only causes a host of ailments in humans, but also wildlife. It can also impact their demographics. Wildfires kill wildlife and catalyze decline in their reproductive rates\u2014notably in avian species. Studies have also shown that animal behavior can change after exposure to smoke\u2014Bornean orangutans<\/a> have been shown to rest more and move around less, and Bornean white-bearded gibbons vocalize less frequently and for shorter periods during smoky seasons. Even aquatic ecosystems are at risk\u2014researchers studying Castle Lake<\/a> in California in 2018 noted changes in temperature, ultraviolet radiation and production when smoke covered the lake for 55 days.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agricultural industry is also impacted, and while wildfire smoke has been shown to help some plants use light more efficiently<\/a>, it can also reduce productivity<\/a>, even in farmland that\u2019s far away from source fires. After all, wildfire smoke can travel thousands of miles, impacting the quality of air in areas far removed from active fires. During my visit, smoke from southern Oregon’s Bootleg Fire, which blanketed Crater Lake with smoke, had drifted all the way to the East Coast, creating its own weather systems in the process.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fleeing from smoke<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I certainly didn\u2019t put much thought into smoke risk when I headed down to Crater Lake (originally named Giiwas by the Klamath people, who have lived in the area for thousands of years) for an overnight camping trip with my partner last summer. Although we were aware that fires were active in Southern Oregon, we were set to camp in a part of the forest that was situated far from any evacuation risk. We felt safe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We began to question our decision about 90 minutes into our drive. As we approached Eugene, 100-odd miles south of Portland, the sky began to take on a sepia hue. Heading southwest over the Cascade Range and into the Umpqua National Forest (a land that has been home to several Native peoples: the Umpqua, Southern Molalla, Yoncalla and Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians), the aroma of dusty campfire grew stronger with every milepost we passed. But, with a fire ban in place, there were no campfires. What we were smelling was smoke from faraway fires, casting a foreboding haze over the woods around us.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After attempting to take in the views at Crater Lake, we headed to our campground, a short drive from the park. The sun had already begun its descent by the time we arrived, and yet site after site at the usually packed campground remained empty. When we reached ours, we spent 20 minutes weighing the pros and cons of setting up camp for the night. Yes, it was smoky\u2014but we lived in a particulate-filled city anyway. Would we really be that much worse off? Turning around would also mean another four or five hours of driving\u2014surely, we could handle a smoky night in the woods. The longer we debated, the drier our throats grew, and our eyes began to sting. It was time to go home.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Planning ahead, mitigating risk<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

While having a strategy in place to get away from smoke is a must, it\u2019s better to avoid wildfire smoke in the first place. \u201cWhen it comes to recreating when there is a potential to encounter wildfire smoke, we encourage a \u2018Know Before You Go<\/a>\u2019 approach,\u201d says Forest Service spokesperson Wade Muehlhof. \u201cPeople should check with the forest or ranger district where they plan to recreate to ensure they are aware of current conditions.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there’s still a chance that you might find yourself in a smoky situation during your summertime outdoor adventures, even with the best-laid plans. So how to handle it? For starters, don’t panic\u2014the presence of smoke doesn’t necessarily mean you’re in imminent danger of encountering flames, and the smoke you’re smelling (and seeing) may be coming from many miles away. You’ll be able to tell a bit about the source fire by observing the smoke\u2014for example, if the smoke column gets bigger, that’s a good indication that the fire is also getting bigger so it’s wise to get away quickly. Smoke columns also bend in the same direction that a fire is moving, so head in the opposite direction, if you can. (See Wildfire Safety Tips for Outdoor Recreation<\/a> for more information about smoke safety.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one sense, we were lucky to have physical reactions to the smoke we encountered in Oregon\u2014which made our decision to split easy. Other people aren\u2019t as fortunate. Folks hoping to camp or hike where there\u2019s enough smoke and pollution to be harmful, but not enough to notice face a tougher decision tree. \u201cYour eyes, nose, and throat are all great early warning indicators that the wildfire smoke concentration is irritating,” says Tania Busch Isaksen, Ph.D., associate teaching professor at the University of Washington\u2019s Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences. She recommends downloading the EPA’s SmokeSense app<\/a> and setting up push notifications, which can be a useful tool if you\u2019re in an area with good service and data reporting. And it\u2019s wise to keep N95s handy<\/a>. \u201cAlways keep a new N95 mask with you to use if you find yourself in a smoky situation,\u201d advises Busch Isaksen. An N95 \u201cwill reduce the amount of PM2.5 inhaled until you can get to an indoor location.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also crucial to remember that smoke impacts not only physical health, but also road safety. \u201cSmoke can create visibility problems on roadways, including the formation of \u2018superfog,\u2019 a combination of smoke and dense fog that has resulted in numerous fatal vehicle accidents over the past few decades,\u201d Muehlhof notes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Environmental Protection Agency\u2019s (EPA) Airnow.gov<\/a> is a simple web tool that allows users to look up both current and forecasted air quality information across the United States: AQI is regionally reported by the EPA and reflects the present quantities of pollution\u2014including particle pollution as well as carbon monoxide and ground-level ozone, among others. Higher AQI values represent more potentially hazardous air conditions. Some National Parks also publish air quality health advisories, when necessary, on their Twitter feed<\/a>. \u201cIf smoke is present and ground-level pollution monitors are detecting elevated fine particulate matter\u2014PM2.5 is the size of particle we are most concerned about\u2014then those at greater risk for poor health outcomes associated with wildfire smoke exposure may want to reconsider their trip,\u201d advises Busch Isaksen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Interestingly, it\u2019s not just people with underlying conditions who should take extra care. \u201cOur research is finding that those with underlying respiratory and cardiovascular health conditions are at increased risk of negative health outcomes with exposure to wildfire smoke, and that this risk increases significantly for those 45 and older,\u201d Busch Isakesen says. Pets and livestock are also at high risk. The American Veterinary Medical Association advises monitoring animals for a host of symptoms<\/a>, including breathing difficulties, disorientation, watering eyes and weakness\u2014but it\u2019s best to avoid smoky situations altogether when traveling with pets.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs an avid camper\/hiker myself, I know there is nothing more frustrating than having our plans\u2014many of which were crafted and reserved the previous January\u2014thwarted by wildfire smoke,\u201d Busch Isaksen says. \u201cKnowing your own party’s health limits and checking in for AQI\/wildfire smoke plume information before you head out is important to ensuring everyone’s around for another January planning session.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Fire
Blazing wildfires in the Organ Mountains of New Mexico<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What to do when you get smoked out<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If wildfire smoke forces you to cancel your camping plans, fear not: You may be able to get at least a partial refund, sometimes minus a cancellation fee and\/or the cost of the first night. If a campground is shut down due to wildfire- or smoke-related risks, you should receive an automated cancellation email<\/a> and information about a refund or rebooking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This summer, my partner and I have decided to plan our biggest summer adventures for earlier in the season, before the risk of fire is at its highest. We\u2019ve yet to visit Lake Tahoe due to two consecutive years of wildfire-related campground cancellations, and last summer\u2019s camping debacle has us rethinking our approach to planning ahead altogether. We still have permits for a backpacking trip this summer, passing through sections of Oregon\u2019s Jefferson Wilderness that were engulfed in flames less two years ago, but\u2014by and large\u2014we plan to play our outdoor adventures by ear this summer. If we\u2019re lucky, we may even get to see Crater Lake. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For more about wildfires, check out the Wild Ideas Worth Living podcast<\/h3>\n\n\n\n