The soot, known as PM 2.5, has been linked to cardiac arrest, asthma attacks and “premature deaths” from a range of cardiovascular and breathing disorders.
The scramble to save lives is a challenging reality that many hospitals and medical workers are facing again this year as severe weather-related health emergencies escalate because of extreme climate events.
One after another, major fires exploded across Washington, Oregon and California earlier this month. They have added up to the worst fire season on record.
