What do you need to know about wildfires?
Wildfires have begun to take up a lot of space in the headlines, as shifting climate patterns (and other factors) have created more drought-like conditions across the world, elevating the risk to populations everywhere, which is a serious health security concern.
We asked two experts from Tulane University’s Celia Scott Weatherhead School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine what they recommend to help people safely navigate these situations.
Dr. Stephen Murphy, associate professor in Environmental Health Sciences (ENHS), is the director for the Region 6 Center for Health Security & Response Readiness. David Luglio, postdoctoral fellow in ENHS, has recently published work on the potential links between wildfire smoke and long-term health effects such as autism.
Murphy and Luglio provided general guidance for all before addressing particular challenges inherent to southern Louisiana.
What are some actions people can take to protect themselves during wildfires?
1. Limit outdoor activity. Not only does there tend to be more smoke outdoors, but the more active you are, the heavier you breathe -- and the more smoke you breathe in.
2. Wear a mask. N95s do a great job keeping out wildfire smoke particles. Though any type of face covering helps, N95 masks are a proven protective measure. Bandanas around your nose and mouth are beneficial and better than nothing, but they are not a perfect solution. The N95 mask is far superior for personal protection.
3. Use air purifiers. Having air purifiers helps reduce smoke exposure. There are some good air purifiers that are relatively cheap on the market, and there are do-it-yourself options for those without central air (see below).
4. Have multiple ways to receive emergency updates. Wildfires can move quickly and it is critical that everyone have multiple ways to receive emergency notifications, including cell phone(s), battery-operated and traditional radios, and computers with internet access. Download the FEMA app or a local/state app to receive real-time alerts from the National Weather Service. Sign up for community alerts and be aware of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA), which require no-sign up. Listening to and following the messages is crucial; taking devices with you is just as important.
5. Be prepared to leave. Make an emergency preparedness kit, understand what is in it, and continuously update/refresh it as well as add necessary items as your situation changes (e.g., new medications, new family members, new pets, etc.). Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Packing a kit at the time of the evacuation order is too late.
6. Evacuate. Air quality isn’t the only concern when it comes to wildfires. For people living near active fires, more immediate concerns include the potential of property burning, intense heat, and access to necessary resources. Stay indoors to reduce exposure to smoke, but if the fire itself is an immediate threat to your property or life, do not hesitate to evacuate. Plan ahead of time where you’ll go.
What are the dangers related to wildfires that people generally don’t consider and should be aware of?
Wildfires don’t only affect air quality locally. Gases and particles from wildfire smoke can travel hundreds to over a thousand miles away from the source. Although they become more dilute as they travel, the smoke particles can raise air pollution concentrations in areas as they pass through. Wildfire smoke can appear as a heavy cloud at the surface to forms less readily noticeable such as an overhead haze.
In more severe cases, the effect of this smoke is quite noticeable, as anyone who has been around a campfire knows well. Smoke is irritating to your airways and your eyes and can lead to difficulty breathing. It can also reduce lung function, increase blood pressure and heart rate, and trigger inflammation throughout the body. Smoke can also worsen asthma or COPD symptoms, and wildfire events often coincide with increased hospitalizations. In areas where the smoke impact is less severe, the risk for generally healthy individuals decreases, but sensitive groups, including older adults, people with asthma, and pregnant women, can still have symptoms.
Wildfire smoke exposure in pregnant women may not only affect the mother, but also the child. Studies have related wildfire smoke to preterm birth and neurodevelopmental outcomes in the child. For pregnant women it is important to keep this in mind, even for those who consider themselves generally healthy.
Frequent exposure to elevated air pollution levels may also have cumulative, long-term effects. Though more studies need to be done, long-term exposures to high levels of general air pollution can lead to the development of cardiopulmonary diseases and cancer.
Beyond smoke, people should also be aware of the dangers of heat. In addition to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, high temperatures have been linked to health conditions like cardiovascular diseases and poorer mental health.
Can wildfires exacerbate poor air quality due to other environmental factors?
In terms of air pollution, wildfire smoke is only going to add to what is already in the air. If you live in an area with high industrial pollution, you may be exposed to both (presuming industrial activity doesn’t cease during a wildfire event). Even at low levels, it can add together to affect one’s health.
Wildfire smoke differs in composition depending on what is burning. While there are common pollutants across all fires like black carbon (soot), potassium, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and more, the type and amounts of heavy metals, organic carbons, and other chemicals can vary. Smoke from a grassland fire will look different from one from a forest fire or from an urban wildland.
Burning man-made structures, which have plastics and metals, is of special concern. Burning of such materials will release potentially toxic chemicals into the air.
What is “super fog?”
Active marsh fires coupled with foggy conditions, a typical environmental condition in the Gulf South and New Orleans, can create a dangerous condition known as “super fog,” reducing visibility to 10 feet or less.
Smoke particulates from wildland marsh fires typically measure about 10 microns, about the size of what we see as dust. The moisture in the atmosphere attaches and naturally clings to these particles, creating what we know as fog, but much, much larger than normal -- super fog.
In 2023, smoke produced during an active marsh fire near Interstate 10 just outside of New Orleans combined with developing fog overnight, leading to "super fog" conditions. The drastically reduced visibility led to a 158-car pileup the following morning.
It is critical that you do not stop on the road when you encounter near zero visibility conditions, as this will cause an accident. Instead, try to pull off to the shoulder or take the nearest exit to surface streets if you are on the interstate.
Environmental conditions will continue to produce foggy conditions, especially in the Gulf South. And drought conditions, fueled further by extreme heat, will continue to create high-risk conditions for fire. The super fog phenomenon is here to stay.
What else should people residing in southern Louisiana understand about the risk of wildfires in their area?
In the Greater New Orleans area, wildfire smoke tends to be generated from marsh fires.
The organic material typically burned in marsh fires is peat. Peat consists of partially decomposed vegetation and contains varying amounts of carbon, sulphur, and nitrogen compounds, which together when burned, produce gases that may be very odorous and irritating. Peat smoke also tends to be thicker than other vegetation fire smoke, in part due to the typical smoldering we see in these fires.
The location of these fires are often inaccessible to traditional fire suppression strategies and equipment. In areas rife with canals and pipelines, accessibility becomes a serious challenge.
Beyond differences in smoke, many homes in older cities like New Orleans have less ability to control indoor air quality due to the age of homes and a decreased ability to be airtight. HVAC systems work to reduce the particulate matter in the home, but only if the air filter reaches the recommended MERV 13 rating. Window units do not filter air in this manner and therefore present challenges in homes without centralized units.
Adding commonly available HEPA filters can offset these issues, but there's a DIY alternative that's also available: Using a basic box fan with a highly-rated air filter duct-taped to the back of the fan. This low-budget alternative had been proven to be just as efficient as HEPA filters and, when done correctly, does not increase any fire risks.
No matter where you live, stay fire aware and fire prepared.
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