Though 90% of attributable deaths are in Asia and Africa, it is a global issue with a local impact, as wildfires across the United States and Canada become even more widespread and destructive. Indeed, a recent study published in Communications Earth & Environment[3] revealed 164,000 people in the US died as a result of wildfire air pollution over a recent 15 year period[4].

Climate change is expected to increase the risk of wildfires around the world, and with experts warning of an intense wildfire season ahead for the US following one of the warmest winters on record[5], the potentially devasting impact on human health cannot be underestimated.

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The dangers of PM2.5 and the wildfire link

Tw oof the most common pollutants released from wood smoke and wildfires, PM2.5 and ozone, can lead to a range of health issues, including respiratory issues and cardiovascular diseases. PM2.5 particles can even trigger fatal heart attacks and strokes within hours of exposure[6]. Air pollution also affects the brain, causes inflammation, and may even play a role in conditions like type 2 diabetes.

One study showed that a quarter of the US’s PM2.5 pollution was caused by wildfire smoke, and in western regions, as much as half[7].  The danger isn’t just confined to what is burning on your doorstep either – in 2023, smoke from Siberian wildfires reached as far afield as Alaska and Seattle.

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How you can protect your tenants from the dangers of wildfire smoke

At 30 times smaller than the width of human hair, PM2.5 particulate matter can infiltrate buildings, posing a major threat to public health. Addressing it involves a number of wide ranging measures, from better wildfire management and air monitoring to taking action to reduce climate change factors.  

So what can you do to better protect your tenants from the impact of wildfires? Early detection of wildfire pollutants like PM2.5 is possible. With the right indoor air quality (IAQ) technology in place and easy, comprehensive access to real-time insights, you can help mitigate the deadly impact of wildfire smoke on your building occupants.

Improving the IAQ of your buildings doesn’t mean a costly Capex outlay.  By utilizing simple-to-install air quality sensors and real-time data intelligence, you can empower your building management teams with the insight needed to identify PM2.5 and other pollutants early and take immediate action to measurably improve air quality.

With up-to-the-minute air quality information at your fingertips,  you can spot issues, chart trends, and make proactive decisions to prevent issues while enhancing occupant wellbeing, comfort, and safety.

As the scale of wildfires continues to worsen, and, more worryingly, the traditional ‘wildfire season’ shifts and extends, taking steps now to mitigate the environmental impact can make all the difference to your people, and your business.

Ready to upgrade your Indoor Air Quality? Get wildfire-prepared with WellStat.

Did you Know?

• National Park Service data reveals that 85% of all wildfires are caused by humans[8].
• 7.5 million acres of wildland were consumed by fire in 2022[9].
• As of August 2025, more than 3,997,080 acres had burned across the U.S[10].
• 2025 was the second largest wildfire season in Canada, with statistics from the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System (CWFIS) recording 6,127 fires.
• 27x more Americans experience at least one day of extreme smoke per year than they did in 2006[11].
• Two days after the LA fires broke out in early 2025, PM2.5 levels peaked at almost triple the WHO recommended daily guidelines[12].

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References

[1] https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20240213-unhealthy-air-how-pollution-changes-your-body-and-mind

[2] https://earth.org/air-pollution-from-wildfires-kills-1-5-million-annually-over-90-in-developing-countries-study/

[3] https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-025-02314-0?utm_source=rct_congratemailt&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=oa_20250502&utm_content=10.1038/s43247-025-02314-0

[4] https://publichealthwatch.org/newsletter/deaths-illnesses-from-wildfire-smoke-mount-worldwide/

[5] https://www.thecooldown.com/outdoors/wildfire-risk-western-states-warm-winter/

[6] https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/deadly-heart-attack-toxins-fill-the-air-as-thousands-told-to-stay-indoors/ar-AA1WvHwb?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=69947c28f43241f4b3e12d8842a0300c&ei=18

[7] https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20240213-unhealthy-air-how-pollution-changes-your-body-and-mind

[8] https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-wildfires

[9] https://www.iii.org/fact-statistic/facts-statistics-wildfires

[10] https://disasterphilanthropy.org/disasters/north-american-wildfires/

[11] https://environment.uw.edu/news/2025/07/are-wildfires-really-getting-worse-a-qa-with-brian-harvey/

[12] https://www.bbc.co.uk/future/article/20240213-unhealthy-air-how-pollution-changes-your-body-and-mind