Last Update: 04/05/2026 at 2:50 PM EST
Climate Change Raises Wildfire Smoke Deaths
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03/24
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Executive Summary
Studies link warming to far more wildfire smoke deaths in the US, with major health and economic losses that worsen as temperatures rise.
- Climate change contributed to about 15,000 US deaths from wildfire PM2.5 between 2006 and 2020
- Those climate-linked deaths were estimated to cause about $160 billion in economic damages
- Annual climate-attributable deaths ranged from 130 to 5,100, with the highest burdens in western states
- One analysis estimated 24,100 annual deaths from chronic wildfire smoke PM2.5 exposure across the contiguous US
- Future warming scenarios project about 64,000 annual smoke-related deaths at 3 degrees C warming
- Limiting warming to 2 C or 1.5 C could cut projected smoke deaths substantially
- Researchers say prescribed burns and land management can reduce near-term risk, but emissions cuts are still needed
Quick Facts
- What: Climate change-linked wildfire smoke deaths and damages
- Where: Across the United States, especially western states
- Why: Warmer, drier conditions increase wildfire smoke and PM2.5 exposure
- Who: US researchers studying wildfire smoke mortality
- When: From 2006 to 2020, with future scenarios modeled
Coverage Timeline: 3029 Days
Featured Article
Researchers report that anthropogenic climate change increased US wildfire PM2.5 exposures, causing around 15,000 deaths and $160 billion in costs from 2006 to 2020 across the United States.
Additional Articles
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Researchers led by Minghao Qiu estimate wildfire smoke mortality and economic damages in the United States under future warming trajectories.
Researchers report that climate-driven burned-area increases from 2006-2020 caused about 15,000 US deaths and $160 billion in costs from wildfire PM2.5 exposure across the United States.
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A Science Advances study published in 2026 finds that chronic exposure to wildfire smoke PM2.5 caused about 24,100 deaths annually in the contiguous United States from 2006 to 2020.
Scientists at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai reported Wednesday that chronic wildfire smoke PM2.5 exposure caused roughly 24,100 annual deaths in the contiguous United States from 2006 to 2020.
University of New Mexico scientists report in 2020s western US forests that climate-driven tree mortality and increased fuel aridity raised wildfire energy release and plume intensity.
In 2017 California, Climate Central and health researchers documented how climate-amplified wildfires produced smoke waves that spiked PM2.5 pollution and respiratory illness across the Bay Area and Central Valley.
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IQAir reported that climate-driven wildfires and dust storms worsened city PM2.5 pollution in 2025, with only 14% of 9,446 cities meeting WHO targets.
Researchers report wildfire smoke exposure increasingly correlates with anxiety, PTSD, depression, and other mental health outcomes in the US, with supporting neuroinflammation evidence.
University of Chicago AQLI reported on wildfire-driven particulate pollution in 2023 that worsened air quality across Canada and multiple U.S. states.