2020 was a lot of terrible things, and one terrible thing we learned a lot about was wildfires. 2020 was the worst year for wildfires in California history, topping the previous worst-ever year in 2018. We saw the first ever gigafire (1 million acres burned) in California, and facing down one of the driest Januaries on record in 2021, it seems like year-round wildfires are the new reality.
Poor air quality is an insidious thing. You can’t always see it or smell it, and you might not feel sick. But, over time, these small particles build up in your body and have a detrimental effect on your lungs and heart. Population-level studies from polluted cities in China and India make it very clear: breathe a lot of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), die sooner.
So, air quality is a problem, but what can we do about it? The recommendation from the CDC and other health organizations is simple: stay inside. Wildfires and other major sources of air pollution like cars and factories are outside, so by staying inside, you lower your exposure to bad air. This makes sense, but when the skies are literally red because of suspended smoke particles, these basic measures may not be enough.
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