Study highlights Marin’s exposure to deadly wildfire smoke

Premature deaths from exposure to wildfire smoke spiked across California during years that catastrophic blazes blanketed skies in a gray haze, a new study shows.

More than 52,000 people died prematurely from wildfire smoke across the state between 2008 and 2018. The mortality rate increased in 2008, 2017 and 2018, aligning with the years that wildfires raged out of control, according to the study, led by two scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles. It was published in Science Advances.

The findings have major implications for Marin. Since then, there have be a slew of conflagrations that spouted plumes of smoke that have enveloped the county, health officials said.

Wildfire smoke contains fine particles, known as PM2.5, that can exacerbate health conditions such as asthma, reduce lung function and contribute to heart disease.

“We’re just learning about the longer-term impacts of wildfires on health,” said Dr. Matt Willis, Marin County’s public health officer. “This study is a big step in showing that inhaling wildfire smoke is a lot like smoking cigarettes. It’s damaging to our lungs and heart.”

In Marin, 499 people died premature deaths related to particulate matter during the period covered in the analysis, the study says. The major North Bay fires that burned during the time of the study include the Tubbs, Atlas, Nuns, Redwood Valley and Camp wildfires.

“This is important for Marin because it shows that even if we’re a long way from a fire, when smoke drifts our way it harms our health,” Willis said. “All of these fires happened outside of Marin.”

In the same time period, there were 693 premature deaths in Napa County, 320 in Mendocino County, 446 in Lake County and 1,147 in Solano County, the study says. The greatest number in the North Bay — 2,305 — was in Sonoma County.

Sacramento County had 4,147 premature deaths.

Southern California, another hotspot for wildfire during the 2017 and 2018 season, had great losses as well. Los Angeles County, for example, recorded 9,224 deaths for the time period covered in the study.

Researchers used models to estimate wildfire smoke PM2.5 and mortality data from the California Department of Public Health to compute their findings.

The study is the first to look at the long-term impacts of exposure to wildfire smoke in the state, said Rachel Connolly, lead author and UCLA researcher.

“Our numbers are higher than previous estimates because previous measurements considered the harms from short-term smoke exposure,” Connolly said. “But wildfire smoke is becoming an ongoing problem, and as a result, contributing to long-term disease formation.”

After the study period came the Kincade, Walbridge, Glass, LNU Lightning Complex, and Marin’s Woodward fire, among others.

Willis said that in the past five years, public health officials have become better equipped to protect the general public, which means if citizens are taking the proper precautions, there should be fewer deaths associated with smoke.

One key tool is the use of N95 masks, he said. There are also better warning systems with more air quality sensors and public understanding of the color-coded tiers of the air quality index, so people know when to wear masks, he said.

“So the community is more aware, and is more able to respond to poor air quality in real time,” Willis said.

“This study helps draws the connection between climate change and human health in our lives today,” Willis said. “This research adds to the sense of urgency to mitigate the impacts of climate change — not as a down-the-road concern, but as a threat to health today.”

The authors of the study say the findings show there needs to be more investment in forest management and climate mitigation.

Marin fire officials agree.

“This study does highlight the need for wildfire mitigation throughout the state as smoke impacts can be many miles away from the fire,” said Mark Brown, executive officer of the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority. “For instance, smoke from the 2018 Camp fire significantly impacted the Bay Area.”

“If you think of the amount of cars, tires, appliances, fiberglass and chemicals that burn in these mega fires, it certainly isn’t good for anyone,” Marin County fire Chief Jason Weber. “Our best defense against massive amounts of wildfire smoke is preparedness, fuel reduction work and even prescribed fire.”