ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell University researchers have developed a web tool that estimates county-by-county deaths attributable to wildfire smoke. This new mortality estimation tool integrates federal data from various sources, providing near-real-time maps of estimated deaths due to smoke exposure. 

The dashboard not only displays the number of deaths but also serves as a resource for local emergency officials, helping them assess the severity of the threat posed by wildfire smoke.

What You Need To Know

  • Cornell University researchers have developed a web tool that estimates county-by-county deaths attributed to wildfire smoke using federal data, providing near-real-time information

  • Wildfires not only destroy habitats and release carbon but also contribute to climate change and pose serious health risks

  • The tool assists local emergency officials in assessing the severity of wildfire smoke dangers

Wildfires are known to devastate habitats, release large amounts of carbon and cause widespread harm to communities. They can also contribute to climate change, damage ecosystems on a global scale and pose severe, sometimes fatal, health risks, according to researchers.

Alistair Hayden, an assistant professor of practice in the Department of Public and Ecosystem Health at Cornell University, highlights the broader impact of wildfires.

"Here in the Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, I study things that impact people's health, that are disasters we don't normally think of as disasters," Hayden said.

In June 2023, smoke from Canadian wildfires significantly degraded air quality across many U.S. states, likely resulting in more than 100 deaths, according to Cornell. In response, Cornell researchers developed the mortality estimation tool, which leverages federal data to estimate deaths caused by wildfire smoke.

"It shows the estimated number of deaths due to wildfire smoke in every county in the continental United States," Hayden explained. "The redder the color, the more deaths we are estimating."

One notable hot spot on the dashboard is Los Angeles County, California, where the Lake Fire has consumed nearly 27,000 acres since July 5. For up-to-date air quality information in your area, Hayden recommends visiting AirNow.gov.

"All these squares that you see on the map represent people who have chosen to get a sensor like this one and connect it to the network," Hayden said. "The more people who have access to that air quality data, the better their communities can understand the air quality in that area."

In Central New York, for example, the map shows mostly green, indicating good air quality. However, parts of Western New York display some yellow, suggesting that sensitive groups might want to be cautious about their exposure to outdoor air.

Hayden also emphasized that wildfire smoke affects more than just humans.

"There can be impacts on agriculture. It's been shown to be bad for dairy cattle," he said.

The dashboard, which includes data dating back to January 2023, showed that here in New York state, 200 deaths have been attributed to wildfire smoke so far.