Every year, the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research asks thousands of California households about topics that influence health, the largest state survey of its kind in the U.S.

The findings of the 2024 California Health Interview Survey , which has just been released, show that nearly 14 million adults personally experienced a wildfire or were exposed to smoke from one.

The data only covers between 2022 and 2024, so it does not include the January fires. However, the responses show how blazes are detrimental to many aspects of our health.

Wildfires hurt our lungs

Among adults who experienced a wildfire in the past two years, nearly 10% said it hurt their physical health — that’s up slightly from 2023, according to the survey’s data dashboard AskCHIS .

For those who experien

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