What are the smoke dangers during this coming summer and fall?”
Wildfires threaten four hotspot states Lightning strikes are a big variable in California this summer Swaths of four states — Arizona, California, New Mexico and Washington — are at greatest risk for wildfires this summer as conditions there are starting to worsen, the National Interagency Fire Center announced in its summer forecast. A particular focus was on California, which had a rough season last year and where a fire was burning near Santa Barbara on Wednesday. “Whether or not we see that potential develop into another severe fire season in California depends on ignitions,” Rick Ochoa, the center’s weather program manager, said in a statement. “Last year we had widespread lightning storms move through that area and ignite multiple fires.” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30600950/ Summer tends to be the high season for wildfires, as heat and drought make vegetation dry and more likely to burn. On a hot summer day, when
Smoke is the collection of airborne solid and liquid particulates and gases[1] emitted when a material undergoes combustion or pyrolysis, together with the quantity of air that is entrained or otherwise mixed into the mass. It is commonly an unwanted by-product of fires (including stoves, candles, oil lamps, and fireplaces), but may also be used for pest control (cf. fumigation), communication (smoke signals), defense (smoke-screen) or smoking (tobacco, marijuana, crack, etc.). Smoke is used in rituals, when incense, sage, or resin are burned to produce a smell for spiritual purposes. Smoke is sometimes used as a flavoring agent and preservative for various foodstuffs. Smoke is also sometimes a component of internal combustion engine exhaust gas, particularly diesel exhaust. Smoke inhalation is the primary cause of death in victims of indoor fires. The smoke kills by a combination of thermal damage, poisoning and pulmonary irritation caused by carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and othe
