As millions of people in the West battle wildfires amid dangerously high temperatures, a new study has found a connection between prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke and brain health.
The Park Fire has become California’s fifth-largest wildfire, burning 389,791 acres across Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties with just 18 percent contained as of Wednesday morning, according to CalFire.
Firefighters were battling 95 large blazes on Wednesday, most of which were spreading across the western United States, according to the National Interinstitutional Fire Center reported.
The national weather forecast predicts temperatures will be in the 90s for the Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies and northern High Plains, and in the 100s across much of the northern Great Basin, making it even more difficult to put out the flames.
“Weather is expected to become much warmer and drier later this week with some winds and thunderstorm potential. High temperatures, low relative humidity in the mid-teens, and poor overnight moisture recovery will allow for increased fire activity and extreme fire behavior,” CalFire said.
The Park Fire (pictured) has become California’s fifth-largest wildfire, burning 389,791 acres.
Firefighters were battling 95 major blazes Wednesday, most of which were burning across the western United States.
‘Fire crews are providing structural defence where necessary. They are attempting to complete containment lines in some areas and gain a strong foothold in the challenging topography while also participating in mop-up duties where necessary.’
There have been at least 277 structures destroyed and 29 structures damaged in Butte and Tehama counties due to the Park Fire.
More than 5,000 firefighters are battling the blaze that was allegedly started by a man who pushed his burning car into a ravine at the top of Bidwell Park near the city of Chico last week.
Ronnie Stout II, 42, was arrested and charged with arson in connection with the fire.
The California Air Resources Board has deemed wildfire smoke a “serious health risk.”
New research has found a link between prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke and brain health. CNN reported.
More than 5,000 firefighters are battling the park fire that was allegedly started by a man who pushed his burning car into a ravine at the top of Bidwell Park near the city of Chico last week.
There have been at least 277 structures destroyed and 29 structures damaged in Butte and Tehama counties due to the Park Fire.
Researchers measured the impact of PM2.5 (air polluting particles 2.5 microns or smaller in diameter) on more than 1.2 million people aged 60 and older in Southern California between 2009 and 2019.
They found that the odds of someone exposed to wildfire smoke being diagnosed with dementia increased by 21 percent for every 1 microgram increase in PM2.5 concentration per cubic meter of air over an average of three years.
“There is quite a bit of previous literature showing an association between ambient air pollution exposure and dementia, but there is very limited research on how PM2.5 from wildfires, specifically, might be associated with dementia,” researcher Dr. Holly Elser, an epidemiologist and resident physician in neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, told CNN.
‘As wildfires become more intense, more frequent, and occur in locations outside of the western U.S., we felt this was an important and specific source of air pollution to consider as a potential risk factor for dementia.’
In Oregon, the state’s largest wildfire, the Durkee Fire, has burned 293,882 acres and was 52 percent contained as of Wednesday morning.
In Colorado, the Alexander Mountain Fire (pictured) reached an estimated 5,080 uncontained acres on Tuesday
Three fires—the Alexander Mountain fire, the Quarry fire, and the Stone Canyon fire—are raging across Colorado.
The Alexander Mountain Fire, which started Monday in Larimer County, has reached an estimated 5,080 uncontained acres as of Tuesday, according to the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office.
The chairman of the Larimer County Board of County Commissioners declared a disaster emergency for the county.
The Stone Canyon Fire has burned 1,320 acres with no significant growth overnight and the evacuation order has been lifted for parts of Lyons.
The Quarry Fire in Jefferson County broke out overnight and has grown to 130 acres with five subdivisions under mandatory evacuation. The Denver Gazette reported.