Oregon’s 100,000 Acre Wild Fire Promises Multimillions In Damages
The so-called Cram Fire in Oregon has burned approximately 100,000 acres, making it the largest wildfire in the country. The fire itself will cause millions of dollars in local damage. The smoke, which could spread hundreds of miles, will cause more. As Axios points out, “More than a dozen homes have been destroyed with hundreds more under threat.”
A growing body of research exists regarding the impact of wildfire smoke on both health and property. People with preexisting conditions, particularly heart and lung problems. Can be affected by fires hundreds of miles away. Among other things, the Canadian wildfires that sent smoke south to New York City resulted in hundreds of people being sent to hospitals. As the number of large wildfires grows, so does this threat.
New Jersey Fires
Wildfire smoke can also cause permanent damage to homes. Chemicals from fire can seep into wood and other home materials and cannot be removed. It bears a strange comparison to second-hand smoke.
The number of wildfires that burn tens of thousands of acres will grow as vast areas of drought do. In places like southern California, they have become a fixture. And they are more common in eastern areas, such as New Jersey. Some small fires have even spread to New York.
The Oregon fire occurs near the midpoint of the summer and in an area that rarely suffers from drought. That has become a pattern.
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