Wildfire Smoke Safety

wildfire in forest

What is wildfire smoke?

Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of gases. As a wildfire burns, different compounds are released in the smoke, such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter (PM). The toxicity of wildfire smoke can change very quickly depending on factors in the wildfire environment, such as weather, fire behavior, and the type of vegetation burning. Because of this, wildfire smoke exposure can be hazardous for anyone, including outdoor workers.

How can wildfire smoke affect an outdoor worker's health?

Outdoor workers in the Pacific Northwest can have different individual risk factors such as age and health conditions (e.g., pre-existing heart or lung disease) that make them more likely to be affected by wildfire smoke. Some health effects known or suspected to be caused by wildfire smoke include:

Eye irritation, sore throat, wheeze, and cough,
Asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia,
Cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) outcomes, and
Adverse birth outcomes

Recent PNASH studies have explored how we can better understand the burden, need, and impact of wildfire smoke on agricultural workers:

Combined Burden of Heat and Particulate Matter Air Quality in WA Agriculture
Smoke Monitoring for Agricultural Safety and Health (SMASH)
A 2018 student-led study found that nearly 75% of surveyed farmworkers near Mattawa, Washington reported being exposed to an unhealthy amount of wildfire smoke on the job, and 100% of respondents reported that they had little or no information about how to protect themselves from smoke.

The resources below are designed to help employers and workers practice wildfire smoke safety.