This is the second year I can remember where smoke from wildfires in Canada has carried into the US, polluting the skies and creating a kind of apocalyptic feel. It feels incredibly eerie and terrifying to walk outside and hardly be able to see the sun or to wear a mask because the air quality is so poor.  

Of course, these large-scale disasters are due to climate change. But how so? It is because North America is receiving less annual rainfall and snowfall than in previous years. Therefore, forests are like tinderboxes for fire. They start and spread far easier than ever before. Consequently, whenever naturally occurring fires have the potential to become full-fledged wildfires a colossal amount of smoke follows.

This summer, the smoke affected New York City, Chicago, Toronto, Detroit, and Washington, D.C. the most. In some areas such as Michigan, the air quality was so poor that residents had no choice but to wear masks. In a personal experience, I was meant to fly through New York City. The pollution was so bad that the flight was cancelled and pushed to the next day. In the most affected areas, the Air Quality Index was ‘Moderate’ or ‘Unhealthy’.  

So why is this such a big deal? The smoke does dissipate in a few days, after all. It’s important for a few reasons. The first is that when the smoke is here, it is dangerous for people to breathe in, particularly people with respiratory issues. Secondly, pollution from smoke and ash greatly harms biodiversity. The ash blocks the sunlight, pausing photosynthesis and plants’ natural stages of growth. Additionally, pollution harms animals’ respiratory systems as well. Essentially, pollution means weaker ecosystems because both plants and animals are harmed. Thirdly, the rain and runoff bring ash and debris into ecosystems, harming and poisoning the water and land quality and the organisms inhabiting it.  

Moreover, just because the smoke disappears doesn’t mean that its effects disappear as well. Just because we can’t always see the effects in front of us doesn’t mean that we can ignore the fact that they’re still happening and still causing damage.  

When wildfires occur, I feel so powerless. What can we do that will actually make an impact? In my opinion, the first step of action is to be educated in politics. Vote for people who will protect our planet and do their best to encourage and promote biodiversity and conservation! I’m so excited to be able to vote in one year and have a say in our government. And like always, the most we can do is change our actions and inspire others to do the same. My favorite actions are to make sure the brands I buy from don’t use an incredible amount of pollution in the process, using as little plastic as I can, and joining groups that promote environmental activism and justice.  

Sources: https://atmotube.com/blog/effects-of-wildfires-on-air-quality 

Image: Marín, Fachy. “A large fire burning in a field next to a forest photo.” Unsplash, 18 August 2023.