The sky turns a rusty orange. The sun dims behind a thick veil of smoke. For millions of Americans, even ones far from wildfire-prone lands, this eerie scene is no longer rare. Extreme wildfires have doubled in frequency and intensity in recent decades, and their smoke is erasing decades of gains in clean air.
Fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke—tiny particles that lodge deep in the lungs—is now one of the most harmful forms of air pollution in America. So you might assume that our nation’s clean air laws are working to protect us from such emissions. But here’s the paradox: While the Clean Air Act seeks to reduce harmful pollution, it largely overlooks the biggest and fastest-growing source of that pollution: wildfires.
Worse, the Clean Air Act makes it harder to use the very tool that scientists and land managers agree is essential for reducing catastrophic fires and the choking smoke they produce.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.