Smoky Skies, Altered Lives

Wildfires are growing in frequency and intensity, threatening our landscape, our lifestyle and our health. This series probes how the upsurge in fire and smoke fueled by climate change puts us at risk, and how restoring the health of our forests could make a difference.

We're collecting readers' questions about human health and the wildfire smoke. Have a question? Ask us now.

Intentional burns, key to preventing megafires, slow to start in WA

Even as the consensus for prescribed fires has grown, the number of acres actually burned each year is shrinking.

Levi Pulkkinen

InvestigateWest

/ October 19, 2020

During wildfires, West Coast farmworkers forced to put harvest over health

Little is done to protect the workers’ health, and many feel powerless to hold employers accountable.

InvestigateWest

/ October 6, 2020

How wildfires in the American West hurt the entire country

As smoke travels, it can cause illness and economic hardship thousands of miles away.

Mara Kardas-Nelson

InvestigateWest

/ October 1, 2020

As wildfires break records, firefighters face growing health risks

Emerging scientific evidence shows they may be at risk of respiratory and heart illness, and maybe even cancer.

Mara Kardas-Nelson

InvestigateWest

/ September 28, 2020

Mental health support can't keep up with wildfires or hurricanes

As climate change drives more and more disasters, mental health support is in greater need than ever. America is not ready.

Columbia Journalism Investigations, Center for Public Integrity and InvestigateWest

/ September 23, 2020

How British Columbia protects its people from wildfire smoke

The Canadian province is well ahead of Washington and Oregon in protecting people’s health from wildfires.

Mara Kardas-Nelson

InvestigateWest

/ September 22, 2020

Wildfire smoke’s health impacts have only just begun

A growing body of evidence shows smoke sickens and can even kill. Is the government doing enough to protect residents?

Mara Kardas-Nelson

InvestigateWest

/ September 21, 2020