SAN DIEGO — Wildfires ravage San Diego year after year, leading to devastating, dangerous and deadly consequences. The fires can have a negative impact on our health, even if we're not directly in the line of fire. Bad air quality can stretch thousands of miles.
So CBS 8 spoke with a professor, who is studying the topic and has ways to help us stay safe.
"We don't really think that much about the air we're breathing in, but it is a huge determinant of our health, around the world air pollution is one of the leading causes of sickness and death," Dr. Tracey Holloway said, who is a SciLine expert and Professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Nationwide, wildfire season is getting longer and more intense, exposing Americans to record breaking amounts of wildfire related smoke, according to Professor Holloway, who studies air quality.
"I got into this because it was a way to connect science with issues people care about. Our health and our energy systems," she said.
Whether it's wood, vegetation or family homes burning, wildfires emit chemicals into the air.
"Nitrogen oxides are coming off, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide and particles," Dr. Holloway added.
We inhale these invisible particles and breathe in these gasses without even knowing it.
"It's associated with respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, shortness of breath and shortened life outcome," she said.
It of course depends on how big the blaze is and how sensitive your health may be but our expert says even being exposed to wildfire smoke for one day can cause damage.
"I'm not saying everyone will get sick from a wildfire, but some people will," Dr. Holloway said.
And the smoke can travel thousands of miles. Professor Holloway also leads a team at NASA, that helps make satellite data more relevant when it comes to decision making on air quality and our health. You may remember last year, wildfires burning in Canada turned New York a burnt orange.
"So the idea that smoke from Canada could impact Southern California may be surprising, but when you see it from space - and you can trace the plume, going the whole way, it really is as clear as day," the Professor said.
The Environmental Protection Agency makes monitoring our air quality easy though. In your smart phone's weather app - it shows the Air Quality Index. Green is good, yellow moderate, orange means unhealthy for sensitive groups, like children, the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions like asthma. If you see red, it means the air is unhealthy for everyone. Maroon and purple - even worse.
"Since the Clean Air Act in 1970, and even before that in California - measures have been in place to make our air cleaner, except for wildfires it has been a good news story - and our air has been cleaner," Dr. Holloway said.
On days when the air quality is bad, head to a safe indoor space. If not at home, something like a cooling center or the public library that can provide filtered air.
"If it is visibly smoky outside, stay inside if you can. Air conditioners are good about filtering out some of the invisible gasses, we're concerned about and indoor air purifiers are a good way to filter out particulate matter," she added.
Also masks are effective in protecting your lungs.