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Massive Wildfires, Raging in the Western U.S., Threaten Health on a Vast Scale 

The Park Fire, largest in California's history, is one of a number of dangerous blazes.

News

Wildfires

A member of the Butte County Sheriff's Search and Rescue evacuation team battles the Park Fire. (Photo courtesy of Butte County Sheriff's Search and Rescue)
By Ethan Richardson

Across the western United States, a series of summer wildfires have triggered urgent evacuations, cloaked cities in hazardous smoke, and left trails of devastation in their wake. Searing heat, high winds, and dry conditions have made containment efforts more difficult, and the scale and expanse of these disasters threaten the health of numerous vulnerable communities. 

The Park Fire

The Park Fire, only 12% contained, is already the largest wildfire in California history. Covering a staggering 368,000 acres, the blaze’s vast spread has forced the evacuation of around 8,000 people and destroyed more than 100 structures thus far.  

Evacuees include residents from and around Paradise, the community devastated by the Camp Fire in 2018. Direct Relief has been extensively involved in improving health care access and power resiliency in the area, from providing requested medications and supplies to funding health care providers focused on on-the-ground care to equipping health centers with backup power in case of outage. 

Red flag warnings, the highest level of alert for fire danger, have been issued throughout much of central California. 

Widespread Threats

Eleven other wildfires covering thousands of acres are active in the state, and hundreds of thousands of additional acres have burned this year.  

The Durkee Fire in Oregon, which has spread across more than 288,000 acres, is 49% contained as of recent reports. 

Large-scale wildfires have far-ranging health and socioeconomic impacts, ranging from degraded air quality and contaminated water to lost homes, jobs, and medical care. Affected communities face immediate risks related to increased rates of respiratory and cardiovascular issues, mental health concerns, unmanaged chronic conditions, and heat-induced illnesses. Consequences to health and its social determinants can be years-long or even permanent. 

Direct Relief’s Response

Throughout recent wildfire events, Direct Relief has offered critical support to CalOES, county public health departments, search and rescue teams, and local health centers and clinics near active fires, including the Park Fire in Butte County.  The organization maintains an inventory of N95 masks and other essential medications and supplies often requested after wildfires.

In addition, the organization has coordinated with national, state, and regional health centers and free clinic associations to ensure a comprehensive response. Their efforts include delivering essential medical supplies and resources to help those impacted by the fires, demonstrating a dedicated commitment to mitigating the crisis, and supporting the affected populations. 

Butte County Search and Rescue has also requested Direct Relief’s inventory list of medications to support care for evacuees in local shelters and for information analysis and mapping assistance to direct emergency efforts.  

From providing essential medical supplies to supporting long-term recovery and resiliency efforts, Direct Relief is committed to mitigating the health impacts of wildfires and other disasters. The organization will continue to work closely with partners to protect and improve health in communities impacted by these events. 

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