Forest wildfire at night a natural disaster
If you remember some of the worst wildfire activity of the past few years, you might be less surprised by what’s been happening in Florida.
Communities have seen massive wildfires rage across the state, creating billowing clouds of smoke, and impacting thousands of acres.
You can see some of the extent of these conflagrations on the EPA‘s AirNow fire and smoke map, and start to think about where the damage is worst, and what communities are impacted the most.
The Big Cypress Fire
One of the biggest wildfires is the Big Cypress fire that has been impacting areas of interstate 75, also known as ‘Alligator Alley’.
If you saw people googling whether Alligator Alley, as a major roadway, was open, this was the wildfire that they were talking about.
“According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the blaze ignited Feb. 22 in the Big Cypress National Preserve,” wrote Tomas Rodriguez for USA Today Feb. 25. “The flames caused the National Weather Service in Miami to put out an advisory the same day.”
Impacting some 40,000 square acres, The Big Cypress fire was a massive natural disaster that threatened to displace a lot of people, infrastructure and wildlife.
One of the results of this massive natural disaster is that these fires are going to spread air pollution that will require many households to use air purifiers to try to improve their health in their homes.
Where It’s Worst
From the fire and smoke map, you can see that areas like Ocean City and Bonifay are big impact areas, as well as areas of the panhandle and northwest Florida. Some of the cities include Big Coppitt Key, Cudjoe Key, Stock Island, Big Pine Key, Marathon in the Florida Keys, and Naples Manor, Bonita Springs, Fort Myers Beach, Golden Gate, Pelican Bay, Punta Gorda, Sanibel in the Naples-Fort Myers metro area. You saw the impact far and wide, around the state, as residents grappled with the smoke and nuisance. Dealing with major wildfires often means re-evaluating building security, property protections, and human safety in this type of natural disaster.
Taking Shelter
When you read the advice of experts, and the federal or state warnings on these fires, you see various steps that residents are encouraged to take. One of them involves securing an indoor space, and staying inside during the worst of the wildfire activity. That’s particularly important for high-risk groups like:
- Children
- Pregnant women
- The elderly
- The immunocompromised
- Those with certain respiratory conditions
These official warnings will often list the high-risk groups and designate specific protection recommendations for them.
In Your Home
One thing that you’ll see in these kinds of notifications is a frequent recommendation to shelter in place for a certain time frame when smoke is worst, and air quality is lowest.
That’s all good, but if your indoor environment isn’t clean, you won’t be getting the best benefit out of barricading yourself in.
That’s where air purifiers come into play, along with plastic sheeting and protectors around doors and windows. By sealing your indoor environment, and keeping it clean, you secure a safe zone for yourself and your family.
Looking Out for the Future
There’s also the consensus that we’re going to see more of this type of wildfire activity in the future, so it makes sense to take these precautions and be prepared. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration asserts that climate change, and what the NOAA calls a “thirsty atmosphere,” is going to drive significant upward trends in wildfire events.
The Health Dangerous of Wildfire Smoke
One of the problems with these wild wide-ranging fires is that the smoke carries something called PM 2.5, small ultrafine particles that can get in the lungs, and cause or worsen different kinds of respiratory issues and other health problems. These are called “PM 2.5” because the particle size is around 2.5 microns.
A modern HEPA filter in an air purifier will take care of PM 2.5, because they work on particles down to .1 microns, according to the type of HEPA.
So that’s another reason to consider this kind of home appliance if you live in one of the zones directly affected by wildfire, whether it’s in Florida or California or anywhere else.
USAirPurifiers is a family and veteran-owned U.S. business offering a wide range of high-quality air purifiers, scrubbers, filters, air monitors and humidifiers. The Lulay Team knows that clean air isn’t one-size-fits-all, so we match the right solution to your needs and budget. Invest in your family’s health and breathe easier. Your health is truly our top priority because everyone deserves to enjoy clean air everywhere!