Bushwalk Australia

Sobering reading.

445 killed, 3000 admitted to hospital.
2 billion in health costs

All attributed to smoke from fires burning in the bush.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-26/ ... s/12286094

It makes you wonder about the value of sitting around, and cooking on, a campfire.

Mark F wrote:It makes you wonder about the value of sitting around, and cooking on, a campfire.

Well that is a personal choice, also it's hot smoke and we don't deeply breath hot smoke if we can avoid it, cool smoke gets deep into the lungs and seems to be harder for our body to get rid of

Its probably related mainly to those with chronic lung and heart problems which get much worse in a polluted atmosphere.

Same outcome with the earlier Latrobe Valley coal fires, but there more people already had problems due to the pollution from the power station prior to the fires.

slparker wrote:Its probably related mainly to those with chronic lung and heart problems which get much worse in a polluted atmosphere.

That's true. I don't have the full story, but I believe from a few reports that asthmatics and older people with underlying respiratory conditions (asthma/emphysema and COPD) have a high presentation in those bushfire figures. That's not to say it was easy for healthy people!

In early February I was camping in Noojee outside Melbourne when thick, acrid bushfire smoke, drifting from the east, engulfed the campsite. It was so bad everybody abandoned their tents and bundled themselves into their cars and stayed there for about 9 hours! Fortunately a westerly breeze came in at 6pm and cleared the choking smoke away, but it was certainly concerning and distressing (I have asthma). There's only so long you can hold on for a wee...

Mark F wrote:It makes you wonder about the value of sitting around, and cooking on, a campfire.

I figure that the risk is mitigated by being careful to select dry wood, and keeping the fire vigorous enough that it burns hot.

Also, you are typically only exposed for a relatively short period of time.

I also expect that the overall health benefits of hiking would far outweigh the impacts from breathing in the smoke.