The Southern California (SoCal) wildfires are the headline, impacting air quality, public health, and our very landscape. Media coverage is rightly focused on immediate threats; however, scientific research reveals a more complex picture. Recent studies highlighted in past ACSH articles point to the changing nature of wildfires, the inadequacy of current measurement tools, and the looming financial implications for individuals and insurers.
The Latest PM-O-Phobia: Wildfire Smoke
A recent New York Times article on wildfire smoke and its health impacts falls short by focusing solely on PM2.5 data. While PM2.5 is a commonly used metric for air quality, it doesn't account for particle size or the specific toxic components in wildfire smoke. Smaller particles, not measured by PM2.5, can penetrate deeper into the respiratory system and bloodstream, potentially causing significant damage. To more accurately estimate the health impacts of wildfire smoke, researchers need information on exposure rates, human behavior during wildfires, and the most harmful elements in smoke. Studies have shown that individuals with asthma are particularly vulnerable to the respiratory effects of wildfire smoke.
Before You Can Blink: The Rise of Fast Fires
Moving beyond the immediate health impacts, the concept of "fast fires," a new category of wildfires characterized by their rapid growth rates (FGRs), is undoubtedly a factor in California burning. Fueled by invasive grasses, climate change, and human ignitions, these fires can consume vast areas in hours, posing significant challenges for containment and evacuation efforts. While only a small percentage of wildfires are categorized as "fast fires," they account for a disproportionate amount of burned area and structural damage, and the firm in SoCal, while atypical because of its more urban location, is consistent with the alarming increase in FGRs in the Western US.
The Canary in the Climate Change Coal Mine
The escalating costs associated with wildfires and other natural disasters are not just a concern for individuals but also for insurance companies. The withdrawal of insurance companies from Florida over hurricanes and California over wildfires is the proverbial "canary in the coal mine," highlighting their withdrawal from high-risk areas as a clear signal of unsustainable risk. As reinsurance costs skyrocket, insurers are forced to make difficult choices, leaving homeowners in vulnerable areas struggling to find affordable coverage.
California’s wildfires are a stark reminder of our evolving relationship with risk in a changing climate. From the rise of "fast fires" that defy traditional containment strategies to the inadequacies of current air quality metrics to the retreat of insurance companies from high-risk areas, these disasters will require us to reshape our understanding and response to an environmental threat. Addressing wildfires will require a multifaceted approach that prioritizes improved monitoring, enhanced preparedness, and sustainable risk management strategies. However, once the fires are extinguished, we will need a critical review rather than the “fanning of the flames” political opportunists have already begun.
Chuck Dinerstein, MD, MBA
Director of Medicine
Dr. Charles Dinerstein, M.D., MBA, FACS is Director of Medicine at the American Council on Science and Health. He has over 25 years of experience as a vascular surgeon.
