On September 5, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service released an updated version of the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map. This tool aims to provide millions of Americans with enhanced information to protect themselves from wildfire smoke.
"As millions of Americans have experienced, wildfire smoke can travel for hundreds of miles, including from Canada, affecting people anywhere in the U.S.," said EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Joseph Goffman. "The updated AirNow Fire and Smoke Map makes even more information available about wildfire smoke and air quality – information anyone across the country can use to reduce their exposure and protect their health."
Forest Service Chief Randy Moore emphasized collaboration in addressing wildfire impacts: "As we continue the important work to confront the wildfire crisis, we are committed to working with federal, state, tribal and local health departments and air quality agencies to protect public health. This updated map is a valuable resource for people taking action to protect themselves and their families from smoke impacts."
The revised map features a new design that loads more quickly and includes additional data not present in previous versions. Enhancements include:
- Air quality monitoring information on coarse particle pollution and ozone.
- Detailed information on individual wildland fires.
- Data from low-cost fine particle sensors in Canada.
Users can now access activity recommendations at a glance or expand details for further guidance on protecting health, view charts showing air quality changes over the past week, and check for other fires within 30 miles of their location. The map also highlights Smoke Outlook alerts prominently.
A beta version was made available in July for public review, leading to adjustments based on feedback received.
Developed by EPA and the Forest Service, the Fire and Smoke Map integrates data from various sources such as monitors reporting to AirNow, temporary monitors near fires, and crowd-sourced data from nearly 15,000 low-cost sensors measuring fine particle pollution.
The map can be accessed via the AirNow website or through the AirNow smartphone app by selecting the smoke icon at the bottom right corner. Options are available for viewing in Spanish or adjusting color scales for users with color vision deficiencies.
For more details:
Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/epa-airnow/id467653238
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.saic.airnow
