{"id":4146,"date":"2026-08-03T10:51:27","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T08:51:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cqssalud.com\/smoke-fires-and-health-health-environmental-and-healthcare-system\/"},"modified":"2026-08-03T10:51:27","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T08:51:27","slug":"smoke-fires-and-health-health-environmental-and-healthcare-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cqssalud.com\/en\/smoke-fires-and-health-health-environmental-and-healthcare-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Smoke, fires and health: health environmental and healthcare system"},"content":{"rendered":"

Forest fires are usually measured in hectares burned, homes evacuated, resources deployed or days of work for the teams involved in firefighting. These are figures that are necessary, because they help to gauge the scale of the emergency. But they do not tell the whole story. <\/span><\/p>\n

When a fire approaches populated areas, the problem is not limited to the flames. It also takes the form of smoke, airborne particles, poor air quality, restrictions on movement, vulnerable populations, respiratory emergencies and health advice which, in some cases, is issued several kilometres away from the fire. <\/span><\/p>\n

This is what we have seen once again in recent days in Madrid, with the fires that have affected the Sierra Oeste and the surrounding area. Air quality deteriorated in various municipalities in the north of the region and, according to data collected by the <\/span>Cadena SER<\/span>, in Colmenar Viejo, PM10 levels reached 160 micrograms per cubic metre, well above the World Health Organisation\u2019s daily recommendation. High levels were also recorded at other locations, such as Guadalix de la Sierra, El Atazar and Alcobendas. <\/span><\/p>\n

This information is important because smoke from fires is not just a nuisance. It contains particles and compounds that can particularly affect people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions, children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with chronic illnesses. In such cases, reducing exposure, closing doors and windows, avoiding physical activity outdoors or following the advice of the health authorities are not just minor recommendations. They are protective measures. <\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>European Environment Agency<\/span> It has been pointing out for years that air pollution remains the greatest environmental risk to health in Europe. Its 2026 air quality report notes that, although the situation has improved in recent decades, there are still monitoring stations that exceed current European Union standards, particularly for pollutants such as PM10 particulate matter, tropospheric ozone and benzo(a)pyrene. <\/span><\/p>\n

Fires add a further complication to this scenario. They are not a continuous source like traffic or industry, but they can cause acute episodes of pollution, with high concentrations over short periods and effects that depend on the intensity of the fire, the direction of the wind, proximity to population centres and weather conditions. <\/span><\/p>\n

And here, a public health perspective is becoming increasingly clear: extreme environmental events can no longer be viewed solely as civil protection emergencies. They are also public health incidents. <\/span><\/p>\n

The immediate response remains to put out the fire, protect the public and prevent further damage. However, at the same time, it is necessary to monitor air quality, provide clear information, identify vulnerable groups, coordinate health services and anticipate potential impacts on primary care, emergency services and community health. <\/span><\/p>\n

Europe is also moving in that direction. In June 2026, the European Commission announced the largest preventative deployment in its history for the fire season, with firefighters pre-positioned in high-risk areas, aerial resources and the rescEU reserve ready to support Member States when national capacity is overwhelmed. In recent days, the EU has once again activated its Civil Protection Mechanism in response to the fires in Spain and France, during a summer that was already expected to be particularly challenging. <\/span><\/p>\n

This European coordination offers numerous advantages, such as the use of shared resources, cross-border support, shared information and the ability to respond to emergencies that no longer always align with administrative boundaries.<\/span><\/p>\n

The underlying issue, however, goes beyond fire-fighting resources. It is about adaptation. But adaptation does not simply mean having more fire-fighting resources. It means considering how healthcare centres are protected during episodes of extreme heat or smoke; how elderly people living alone are cared for; how patients with asthma, COPD or cardiovascular conditions are advised; how weather shelters are organised; how environmental data is used to anticipate risks; and how weather warnings, air quality and the healthcare response are linked. <\/span><\/p>\n

It also means understanding that the local area is an integral part of health. Forest management, town and country planning, emergency planning, air quality, access to safe spaces and the protection of vulnerable groups are not separate issues. They are increasingly interconnected. <\/span><\/p>\n

At that point, the data once again become a key element. Environmental monitoring systems, air quality measuring stations for quality of air, the models for weather, the satellites from Copernicus or the maps of risk enable us to track the progress of fires, smoke, particulate matter and atmospheric conditions. They are not just used to observe what is happening. When used correctly, they can help to anticipate decisions: warnings to the public, recommendations on public health, reinforcement of services, restrictions on activities outdoor activities or protection of vulnerable groups. <\/span><\/p>\n

Innovation in healthcare does not always come from a laboratory. Sometimes it stems from the ability to cross-reference environmental, health and geographical data in order to make better decisions. <\/span><\/p>\n

Sources<\/span><\/p>\n

Cadena SER \u2014 Smoke from the fires in the Sierra Oeste caused pollution levels in Colmenar Viejo to reach three times the legal limit:<\/span>
\n<\/span>https:\/\/cadenaser.com\/cmadrid\/2026\/07\/27\/el-humo-de-los-incendios-de-la-sierra-oeste-multiplicaron-por-tres-el-limite-legal-de-contaminacion-en-colmenar-viejo-ser-madrid-norte\/<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

European Environment Agency \u2014 Air quality status in Europe 2026:<\/span>
\n<\/span>https:\/\/www.eea.europa.eu\/en\/analysis\/publications\/air-quality-status-report-2026<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

European Commission \u2014 The EU ready for the season of forest fires in summer of 2026:<\/span>
\n<\/span>https:\/\/commission.europa.eu\/news-and-media\/news\/eu-ready-summer-wildfires-2026-06-02_es<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

El Pa\u00eds \u2014 The EU is mobilising its emergency response mechanism in response to the fires in Spain and France:<\/span>
\n<\/span>https:\/\/elpais.com\/internacional\/2026-07-24\/la-ue-moviliza-su-mecanismo-de-emergencia-por-los-incendios-de-espana-y-francia-y-avisa-nos-preparamos-para-una-situacion-grave.html<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

El Pa\u00eds \u2014 Teresa Ribera: \u201cEurope is not prepared for the consequences of climate change\u201d:<\/span>
\n<\/span>https:\/\/elpais.com\/clima-y-medio-ambiente\/2026-07-27\/teresa-ribera-vicepresidenta-de-la-comision-europa-no-esta-preparada-para-las-consecuencias-del-cambio-climatico.html<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Community of Madrid \u2014 Air quality and health:<\/span>
\n<\/span>https:\/\/www.comunidad.madrid\/salud\/calidad-aire-salud<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Forest fires are usually measured in hectares burned, homes evacuated, resources deployed or days of work for the teams involved in firefighting. These are figures that are necessary, because they help to gauge the scale of the emergency. But they do not tell the whole story. When a fire approaches populated areas, the problem is […]\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4145,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[46],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4146","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cqs-en"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cqssalud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4146","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cqssalud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cqssalud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cqssalud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cqssalud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4146"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cqssalud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4146\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cqssalud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cqssalud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4146"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cqssalud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4146"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cqssalud.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4146"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}