Smoke Inhalation and Ill Effects Caused by the California Camp Fire

Wildfires are nothing from the past. Every year, we experience the ill effects that these fires bring about as they cause devastation in many ways. From just January to October in 2017, reports showed that over 50,200 wildfires burned through 8.5 million acres in the U.S. Every year, these numbers seem to grow, causing chaos for people in many states, specifically California. The current California Camp Fire took the lives of 86 people, burned through over 12,000 structures, and caused many others to become injured in various ways, especially through burn injuries.

One of the major concerns in the wake of the California Camp Fire is the fact that air quality is not improving since the devastating fire that wreaked havoc on all of Northern California. This past month, California declared a public health emergency due to the worsening air quality conditions. California used the Air Quality Index, which showed that the air was worse than any region in the world after the fire was extinguished. Many areas actually fell into ‘hazardous’ territory, making it the highest on the scale.

Smoke actually disrupted the regular flow of life since this past month. San Francisco cable cars had to stop running for some time, flights were delayed due to the visibility in these areas, and cars were forced to use headlights. What does this say for the health impacts that the wildfire could have left on many due to smoke inhalation?

Health Issues Related to Smoke Inhalation

Wildfire smoke can actually worsen many health conditions for those who are young and old or already experiencing lung-related issues. The EPA says that smoke inhalation can affect all of your upper airways, causing problems in your nasal cavity, oral cavity, throat and vocal cords, and more. Children, the elderly, and those experiencing a pre-existing condition such as congestive heart failure or allergic rhinitis have particular risks that could even be life-threatening in the worst cases.

Individuals have been urged to watch out for the warning signs that smoke inhalation has developed and taken hold in threatening ways such as changes in voice patterns, burning feeling in the nasal cavity, headaches, eye irritation, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Any of these symptoms could indicate that you have been affected and should receive medical attention as soon as possible. Smoke inhalation might not seem as serious as burn injuries, but the truth is that the symptoms could be very life-threatening to the right parties. You might not notice these symptoms until up to 48 hours after the fire, which means that treatment could be delayed for those who need it most.

Your recovery could take months or years, which is why it is important to speak with an attorney immediately if you believe you have been affected negatively in the California Camp Fire. Our experienced wildfire injury attorneys at the Marlene Leiva Law Group are here to support you after you have been negatively impacted by the Camp Fire. We will help you through every step of the arduous compensation process as you work toward results you deserve. Contact us today for more information at 415-459-7300.