Wildfire smoke is an increasing threat to air quality and public health
information released, DNR file photo
On Thursday, U.S. Representative Kim Schrier(WA-08) was joined by Representatives John Curtis (UT-03), Josh Harder (CA-09), David G. Valadao (CA-22), and Val Hoyle (OR-04) in sending a bipartisan letter to the Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael Regan, Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Mandy Cohen calling for further interagency collaboration to combat the rising threat of wildfire smoke and increase the practice of safe controlled burning (often referred to as prescribed fire).
As wildfires have grown in intensity and frequency in the West and throughout the country, wildfire smoke has become an increasing threat to air quality and public health. Congresswoman Schrier’s letter encourages the EPA, CDC, Department of the Interior, and Department of Agriculture to work together to coordinate and approve the expanded use of prescribed fires, which mitigate the risk and subsequent health impacts of large, catastrophic fires.
Prescribed fires support overall forest health, lower the chance of large, destructive fires, and allow for an acceptable amount of smoke to be released in a controlled manner. Unfortunately, “business as usual” arrangements between the respective agencies have stymied the widespread use of this effective forest management method.
“As a doctor, I understand how important it is to mitigate wildfire smoke for public health. Here in Washington state, we’ve had to endure the impact of devastating wildfires on our forests, economy, and air quality,” said Representative Schrier. “I’m proud to lead this bipartisan letter urging further interagency collaboration so that tried and true solutions like prescribed fires can be utilized to help address this growing concern.”
“I’m proud to co-lead this letter that highlights the importance of interagency work on wildfire risk reduction,” said Rep. Hoyle. “We need collaborative solutions to help protect homes, forests, and public health from catastrophic fire and the smoke that comes with it.”
“My brother and I had childhood asthma growing up because of poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke,” said Rep. Josh Harder. “I don’t want my daughter to grow up like I did, worrying more about having my inhaler in my backpack than my homework. California’s Central Valley has some of the highest rates of childhood asthma in the country and some of the worst air quality in the nation. Wildfire smoke is causing a public health crisis and we need to treat it with the urgency and resources it deserves.”
Full text of the letter can be found here.
