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What is OMG Wildfires?

OMG Wildfires is an innovative wildfire and air quality map that everyone can understand. Climate change is fueling larger, fiercer and more frequent wildfires. Last year, a record number of wildfires across Canada sent thick smoke to American cities hundreds of miles away, triggering air quality alerts and health warnings to more than 100 million people. OMG Wildfires addresses the urgent need for engaging resources that spark conversations about wildfires and air quality issues.

How bad is wildfire smoke for your health?

Wildfire smoke can be quite harmful to your health, especially if you're exposed to it for long periods. The danger comes from tiny particles called "fine particulate matter" or PM2.5, which are so small they can get deep into your lungs and even enter your bloodstream.

Some people are at higher risk from wildfire smoke, including those with heart or lung diseases, older adults, children under 18, pregnant women, outdoor workers, and people with lower incomes. Wildfire smoke can increase the risk of both heart and breathing problems, and the more smoke in the air, the higher the risk.

These tiny particles can easily get indoors, so even staying inside might not fully protect you during heavy smoke events. While very heavy smoke can be visible, even levels you can't see can be harmful to your health.

Disclaimer

This map is for educational and awareness purposes only and should not be used to make decisions regarding fire safety. Always follow the guidance of local authorities and emergency services.

Who created OMG Wildfires?

Hi, I'm Amrit. You can find me at @amrit_sharma on Twitter. IRL I'm likely sitting in a local coffee shop, ignoring the book in my hand while chatting with people at nearby tables. I am passionate about make air quality, wildfire and climate change data accessible for everybody.

Fun fact: A few years ago I went viral in India for asking President Obama to wear a face mask in Delhi due to the city's hazardous air quality.

What do the 🔥 emojis really mean?

NASA’s satellites are zooming around Earth day and night, with special sensors onboard to spot fires. The fire emojis on OMG Wildfires mark areas where NASA's VIIRS satellites have detected fires with either nominal or high confidence. The satellites have a 375-meter resolution which means the fire emojis on OMG Wildfires map give a reliable indication of fire presence, though not the precise location. This data on OMG Wildfires is updated every 2 hours.

What do the ❤️ and 💩 emojis really mean?

WHO guidelines say that for air to be clean, the 24-hour average PM2.5 must be below 15µg/m3. The heart emoji means the air is clean, while the poop emoji means the air is dirty. This data on OMG Wildfires is updated every 12 hours through OpenAQ.

What is OpenAQ?

Air quality data for OMG Wildfires is accessed through OpenAQ, a 501c3 non-profit that aggregates and shares air quality data from around the world.

🤍   Donate to OpenAQ

What do the orange streaks on the map mean? 🤔

Wildfires produce lots of smoke that travels with the wind. The orange streaks on the map show smoke levels from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The shades of orange represent three levels of smoke intensity: light (pale orange), medium (moderate orange), and heavy (dark orange). This data is not real-time. It shows smoke conditions from the previous day because the data is manually reviewed by experts at the NOAA to ensure accuracy.

This is great, but... I have some feedback.

I'd love to hear from you! Suggestions, complaints, feedback, and ideas are all welcome. Feel free to tweet at me or email [email protected].