Climate change-linked wildfire smoke blamed for thousands of U.S. deaths and billions in damages

Smoke from wildfires intensified by climate change caused an estimated 15,000 deaths and $160 billion in damages in the U.S. over a 15-year span, according to new research.

Dorany Pineda reports for The Associated Press.

In short:

• A study published in Nature Communications Earth & Environment attributes about 10% of wildfire-related particulate matter deaths between 2006 and 2020 to climate change, with Western states like California and Oregon hit hardest.
• Researchers estimated the toll by comparing real-world wildfire data with a climate change-free scenario, isolating the specific contribution of global warming to deaths from fine particulate pollution (PM2.5).
• Experts not involved in the research say the study’s methods are innovative, but some raised concerns about downplaying other wildfire drivers and warned against overrelying on emissions reductions as the sole solution.

Key quote:

“We’re seeing a lot more of these wildfire smoke events. What does it really mean in a changing environment for things like mortality, which is kind of the worst possible health outcome?”

— Nicholas Nassikas, physician and professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School and an author of the study

Why this matters:

Wildfire smoke is a growing public health crisis. The fine particles in smoke, known as PM2.5, are small enough to penetrate deep into lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Long-term exposure is linked to heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory illnesses, especially in vulnerable groups like children, pregnant people, seniors, and outdoor workers. As climate change drives hotter, drier conditions across the American West, wildfire seasons are becoming longer and more intense, pushing toxic smoke far beyond burn zones. Urban areas downwind from fires face poor air quality for days or weeks. And when fires burn buildings and cars, the smoke can carry heavy metals and synthetic chemicals, compounding the health risks. Smoke doesn't stop at state borders. Its effects are national, even global.

Related: LISTEN: Carlos Gould on wildfire smoke and our health