Exploring the Impact of Chemistry on Air Quality and Climate

The Pacific Palisades fire, the most destructive wildfire in Los Angeles history, has scorched nearly 20,000 acres, according to CAL FIRE's latest figures, but as the images show, some areas of land and structures have managed to escape the flames.

Frank Flocke, a senior scientist at NSF National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), told Newsweek: "The variability of winds on a fine scale due to terrain or obstacles" could be part of the reason some areas of vegetation have avoided being burned.

While flames may be the most visual wildfire danger, experts say smoke and fire retardant slurry can have long-lasting effects on human health and the environment.

“There are hundreds of gases that are emitted from wildfire smoke, some of them in very, very small quantities,” National Center for Atmospheric Research scientist Rebecca Hornbrook said. “Some — like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides — are emitted in higher quantities, but some of those smaller quantity gases are actually even more toxic.”

Wildfire smoke has become an increasingly significant source of air pollution, raising concerns about its impact on public health. As massive fires rage across forests and grasslands, they release large quantities of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), a dangerous pollutant that can penetrate deep into the lungs. Prolonged exposure to these tiny particles has been linked to a range of health problems, including respiratory and cardiovascular issues, making wildfire smoke a growing threat, especially in regions prone to intense fire seasons.