Orange skies are the future. Prepare yourself.

Jun 04, 2023

As climate change drives an increase in wildfires, we’re seeing more smoke lofted into the upper atmosphere each fire season. Depending on wind and weather, this smoke can spread hundreds or thousands of miles from its source—as we saw this week on the U.S. East Coast.

And we’re likely to continue seeing it increase in severity, frequency, and longevity as the planet warms. As a photographer who has photographed over 125 wildfires in California over the last decade, I’ve gleaned some helpful tips and best practices for how to reduce exposure to harmful air once it reaches a town near you.

In the U.S., the 10 worst wildfire seasons for acres burned have all occurred since 2004. Records are set and then