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Articles on Wildfires

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Thick wildfire smoke blankets the landscape near Water Valley, Alta., in May 2023. Evidence linking wildfire smoke with adverse health effects has been accumulating for years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Wildfire smoke is an increasing threat to Canadians’ health

The notion that wildfire smoke is ‘natural,’ and therefore less harmful than other types of air pollution, is not supported by the evidence. Wildfire smoke has been linked to adverse health effects.
People without vehicles line up in Yellowknife to register for a flight to Alberta; residents were ordered to evacuate the area because of encroaching wildfire. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Bill Braden

Yellowknife fires: Evacuees will need culturally specific support services

As the mass evacuation of Yellowknife unfolds, the needs of minority populations will emerge. Past experiences indicate emergency officials may not be ready to meet the needs of a diverse population.
The fossil deposits at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles have well-preserved remains of many prehistoric animals that got stuck in natural asphalt seeps over the past 60,000 years. Cullen Townsend, courtesy of NHMLAC

A changing climate, growing human populations and widespread fires contributed to the last major extinction event − can we prevent another?

New findings from the La Brea Tar Pits in southern California suggest human-caused wildfires in the region, along with a warming climate, led to the loss of most of the area’s large mammals.
A view of the devastation in Lahaina, Hawaii, following the wildfires in August 2023. AP Photo/Rick Bowmer

Native Hawaiian sacred sites have been damaged in the Lahaina wildfires – but, as an Indigenous scholar writes, their stories will live on

The region of Maui has been revered by its Indigenous peoples as a sacred place for generations. It is believed to be the home of Kihawahine, a woman who transformed into a goddess.
Damaged buildings sit in the water along the shore following Hurricane Fiona in Rose Blanche-Harbour Le Cou, N.L. in September, 2022. Fiona left a trail of destruction across much of Atlantic Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

Canadians are unprepared for natural hazards. Here’s what we can do about it

As extreme weather events increase in frequency and severity, many Canadians are still unaware of how to prepare for a natural disaster.
Thick smoke rolling in from Canada’s 2023 wildfires was a wakeup call for several cities. Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images

AI can help forecast air quality, but freak events like 2023’s summer of wildfire smoke require traditional methods too

Air quality forecasting is getting better, thanks in part to AI. That’s good, given the health impact of air pollution. An environmental engineer explains how systems warn of incoming smog or smoke.
A young boy in Lebanon struggles to stay cool during a heat wave. Climate anxiety is real for millions around the globe and presents serious consequences for us all, especially younger generations. Working to reduce climate anxiety is an essential part of any climate plan. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

Reducing eco-anxiety is a critical step in achieving any climate action

Climate anxiety is real and must be considered as a core component of any climate mitigation or adaptation and resilience strategy.

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