Vegetation fire smoke and fire whirls heighten health and safety risks in Europe

Researchers at the University of California warn that smoke from vegetation fires contains ultra‑fine particles that are chemically more reactive than typical urban pollution. Exposure to this smoke is linked to a ten‑fold increase in respiratory hospitalisations, higher rates of premature birth, autism diagnoses, cardiovascular disease, stroke and severe asthma.

In recent European wildfires, fire whirls – also called fire tornadoes – have been observed in France, Greece and other southern countries. Scientists explain that the interaction of wind, terrain and the fire front can spin flames into vertical vortexes that can abruptly change fire direction, loft embers far ahead of the main blaze and endanger firefighting crews. The frequency of such phenomena is rising with hotter, drier summers driven by climate change.