Wildfire smoke is linked to greater cardiopulmonary and cancer mortality harms than other fine particulate pollution. Two large U.S. studies indicate that the source of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may influence its health effects, with wildfire related PM2.5 showing greater toxicity per unit of exposure than pollution from other sources.

The findings raise clinically relevant concerns as wildfire smoke reaches communities well beyond traditionally fire prone regions. The first study examined long term exposure and survival among 414,016 adults aged 65 years and older with lung cancer. Researchers combined residential information from the SEER Medicare database with estimates of wildfire related and non-wildfire PM2.5 exposure.

Both exposure types were associated with increased mortality following lung cancer diagnosis. However, equivalent increases in wildfire related PM2.5 were associated with substantially greater toxicity. Although wildfire smoke accounted for approximately 4% of total PM2.5, it contributed an estimated 17% of mortality associated with total PM2.5 exposure.

Hundreds of deaths annually were estimated to be attributable to wildfire related PM2.5. More smoky days and longer periods of exposure were also associated with poorer survival, suggesting that environmental exposure could warrant consideration in cancer care and survivorship planning.

American Medical Journal

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VIDEO: Four first responders were injured Monday night after they were reportedly struck by a vehicle while responding to crashes on Interstate 26 in Kingsport.

According to the Kingsport Fire Department (KFD), its members were on I-26 westbound near Exit 6 at around 10 p.m. Monday, working a crash when a secondary crash took place behind the first incident. The KFD said its members, along with personnel from Sullivan County EMS, immediately went to the second crash to provide first aid.

“While emergency personnel were loading a patient into an ambulance, a vehicle traveling westbound struck three Kingsport firefighters and one Sullivan County EMS EMT, injuring all four emergency responders,” a news release from the KFD states.

The department said all four first responders were taken to a hospital for treatment, and two have since been released. The other two remained hospitalized as of Tuesday morning with what the fire department called non-life-threatening injuries.

“We are extremely thankful that the injuries sustained by our firefighters and our partner from Sullivan County EMS were not more serious,” the KFD states. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with all four responders, their families, and everyone involved in this incident as they recover.”

WJHL-TV CBS/ABC 11 Johnson City

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People in several apartments at the Osmun Annex complex had to leave their homes after a fire at 1814 W. First Ave. Residents in apartments four through six were evacuated as crews responded to the commercial structure fire.

People who live there said they saw smoke coming from a vacant unit below and then called the fire department. A firefighter at the scene said crews believed the fire started in a bathroom fan. The fire response focused on the vacant unit while evacuated neighbors waited outside the building.

KHQ-TV NBC 6 Spokane

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PHOTOS: Firefighters extinguished a van fire Monday evening near East John Street and 14th Avenue East, according to the Seattle Fire Department. Crews were dispatched around 5:45 p.m. and found the van on fire, with nearby vehicles and a structure at risk of the flames spreading. Firefighters stopped the fire from spreading and extinguished it. Crews returned to service by 7:01 p.m.

KOMO-TV ABC 4 Seattle

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A house fire on University Drive was extinguished on Sunday after causing around $350,000 worth of damages, according to the Walla Walla Fire Department. The Walla Walla Fire Department said crews were dispatched at around 8:35 a.m. and found “heavy smoke and fire coming from the carport, and the fire was extending into the home.” WWFD said the fire was brought under control by 8:55 a.m.

KNDO-TV NBC 23 Yakima

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