HOW CLEAN AIR CLUBS ARE PROTECTING AMERICANS FROM WILDFIRE SMOKE

Mutual aid groups that initially provided PPEs during the Covid pandemic are now extending their support by loaning air purifiers and distributing masks to communities affected by wildfire smoke, according to Environment | The Guardian. This initiative aims to protect Americans, such as Miquette Thompson in rural Mendocino county, who are experiencing hazardous air quality due to nearby fires. The effort highlights the growing need for community-driven solutions to mitigate the impact of wildfires.

Thompson's home has been surrounded by smoke all week, primarily due to the Feliz and Woodside fires in northern California, which have burned over 1,000 acres, as well as the wildfires in Oregon and Washington. The situation has become a new normal for Thompson, who now regularly walks outside into a hazy sky. The initiative by these mutual aid groups is crucial in helping communities cope with the escalating wildfire crisis.

The increasing frequency and severity of wildfires pose a significant threat to air quality and public health, particularly in regions prone to such disasters. This context underscores the importance of community-led initiatives and mutual aid groups in providing essential support to those affected.

• Mutual aid groups are providing air purifiers and masks to communities affected by wildfire smoke
• The initiative is an extension of their Covid-19 PPE distribution efforts
• Wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington are causing hazardous air quality for nearby residents

Read the original source for full detail available at Environment | The Guardian src