But it's not just the fire itself that's dangerous.
Wildfire smoke can travel for thousands of miles, having the ability
to blanket large swaths of a continent from a single wildfire.
Smoke from wildfires can reach high altitudes,
between 3 to 6 miles, and travel with prevailing winds.
This smoke can linger in the air for several weeks, changing the chemistry
of the atmosphere, and reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the surface.
Smoke that gets trapped near the ground severely impacts
the air quality in surrounding communities,
and poor air quality can last for months
as large fires continue to smolder,
even after the fire itself has been contained.