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But it's not just the fire itself
that's dangerous.

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Wildfire smoke can travel
for thousands of miles, having the ability

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to blanket large swaths of a continent
from a single wildfire.

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Smoke from wildfires
can reach high altitudes,

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between 3 to 6 miles, and travel
with prevailing winds.

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This smoke can linger in the air
for several weeks, changing the chemistry

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of the atmosphere, and reducing the amount
of sunlight reaching the surface.

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Smoke that gets trapped
near the ground severely impacts

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the air quality in surrounding communities,

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and poor air quality can last for months

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as large fires continue to smolder,

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even after the fire itself has been contained.