Smoke from wildfires across western Canada, Oregon and California has stained the skies and fouled the air as far away as Iowa, Minnesota and even New York City. Over time, smoke may form reactive compounds that can be especially damaging to the body once they are inhaled. The air quality got so bad last week in Utah that several schools decided to call off sports practices and outdoor activities. Twenty-seven days after igniting, the Dixie Fire has yet to claim any lives, although three firefighters have been injured and 433 homes and businesses have been destroyed. What sets the Dixie Fire apart from the megafires of previous years is the vast area it has torn through in the mountains northeast of the state capital, Sacramento.

Source: New York Times August 09, 2021 23:05 UTC