When the air turns hostile: Real-time air monitoring as a wildfire survival tool

Wildfires are no longer seasonal anomalies - they are relentless, fast-moving threats to lives, properties, the environment and community health. In early 2025, the Hollywood Hills fires tore through Los Angeles, destroying neighborhoods and displacing thousands. But even after the flames were extinguished, another danger remained- the air itself. Lingering clouds of smoke and pollutants hovered for weeks, infiltrating homes, workplaces, hospitals and schools.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), the US endured 63,000 wildfires in 2024,burning more than 7.4 million acres of land. That’s a 20% increase in damaged acreage compared to the 10-year average. 2025 is already on track to break more records.

Wildfires in Canada this year caused transboundary smoke pollution resulting in hazardous air quality warnings across New York and New Jersey. In early June 2025, a combination of Saharan dust and lingering wildfire smoke prompted widespread air quality alerts across the southeastern US.

These fires aren’t confined to rural or forested areas. Urban wildland interfaces - where development meets natural vegetation - are increasingly (and literally) in the line of fire. The risk is rising, and it’s not just about fire damage. It’s about the toxic aftermath that remains long after the final embers die out.

Smoke doesn’t just get in your eyes

Wildfire smoke is not merely a nuisance. It’s a toxic cocktail of particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can travel hundreds - even thousands - of miles. Wildfire-related pollutants can remain in the lower atmosphere for up to 30 days, particularly in urban valleys and low-wind conditions where air circulation is restricted.

Earlier this year, Toronto recorded some of the worst air quality globally on the back of Canadian wildfires. Schools cancelled outdoor activities, residents were advised to stay inside, and hospitals saw a spike in respiratory admissions.

And yet, many communities lack real-time insight into both the pace and direction of travel of wildfires that would inform more effective coordination of fire-fighting and other community resources, and the ability to accurately monitor the level and spread of airborne contaminants to inform communities when it is safe to be outside.

Why real-time monitoring matters

Air quality isn’t static. It shifts with the wind, weather, and other external influences like industrial waste and of course wildfires. Without accurate, real-time data, local authorities and residents are flying blind with respect to managing public health impacts.

WellStat’s air quality devices provide that visibility. Designed for quick deployment and high precision, WellStat’s Air Core and Air Plus devices deliver hyper local, real-time data on levels of PM2.5, CO2, and VOC contamination.

These tools serve abroad set of needs:

• First responders and local (and Federal)authorities can better coordinate evacuations and return-to-home decisions,based on scientific data.
• Schools, hospitals, and community centers can operate (or close) based on up-to-date air hazard alerts.
• Individuals - and particularly respiratory-compromised individuals (e.g. those with asthma, COPD and cardiovascular disease - can make informed decisions about staying indoors, using purifiers, or wearing protective masks.

Installed in shelters, mobile medical units, inside (and adjacent to) public infrastructure, WellStat’s systems map the spread and severity of air-borne contamination giving officials and citizens alike the insight to act before conditions worsen. And once the flames are out, the need for rigorous air quality monitoring continues; communities rebuilding after wildfires should know what potentially health-impacting contaminants remain in the atmosphere.

Of course, by their very nature wildfires can’t be predicted nor are their paths predictable. But our response to them can be. Real-time air quality data - in conjunction with other data from thermal and satellite monitoring - equips us to anticipate danger, not just react to it. It allows for dynamic planning - altering school schedules, adjusting outdoor work hours, re-routing transportation - and guiding emergency aid deployment.

Air quality monitoring also plays a vital role in post-emergency recovery. Monitoring how long pollutants persist in the air in a given region helps determine when it’s truly safe to return - not just structurally, but from a respiratory and environmental standpoint. This is particularly critical in regions with limited access to healthcare, and communities with pre-existing exposure vulnerabilities.

In commercial buildings, demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) is another powerful line of defense. By integrating real-time air quality sensors with HVAC systems, DCV can intelligently manage the intake of outdoor air when air pollution spikes -protecting indoor air quality from being compromised. For buildings in or near wildfire zones, this isn’t just a smart upgrade; it’s a potential lifesaver.

New tools for the new normal

With wildfires growing in scale, frequency and geographic reach, we must reframe how we think about air safety.

As climate change continues to amplify environmental volatility, real-time air quality monitoring should be considered essential infrastructure - on par with evacuation protocols and emergency broadcasting systems - and specifically to support wildfire monitoring and response strategies.

In the same way that localized weather forecasting, and pollen ‘counting’, has become second nature, air quality monitoring must become an integrated, everyday safeguard -especially for populations most at risk. And with WellStat’s accessible, cloud-connected air quality monitoring technologies and systems, there’s no need to wait for solutions. They just need to be deployed.