With the increase in concern over the forest fires in Canada, people may forget the benefits forest fires have for ourselves and our environment. My initial knowledge tells me the ash from the burn nourishes the soil below to help new growth flourish. My guess would be that the particles drifting across the United States also nourish our soils and plants, and perhaps us as well, as we are also a form of life.
I’ve just seen an article describe the smoke as pollution and the particles as contaminants, but I don’t think they are any such thing. Since carbon is actually an absorbent of toxins and chemicals, it may be quite the opposite. Activated charcoal is used to save people from poisonings, and French chemist Michel Bertrand once took it with a lethal amount of poison, and survived.
These forest fires are likely cleansing the air as such, and fallen particles absorb the toxins shed by us as a modern society. Perhaps most notably, the burn particles dropped in the soil of our farmlands can absorb the toxic fertilizers used, and nourish the soil depleted of nutrients by those fertilizers. Carbon may be one of those depleted nutrients, if it was used up absorbing the fertilizer previously. The crops themselves may absorb the smoke directly through the air as well, as we know vegetals (vegetation I know 😆) are machines at absorbing carbon dioxide.
I have no evidence, but the smoke may be beneficial to our health. I do have anecdotal evidence, actually, as I’ve felt great sitting around a campfire, as you probably have as well.
So, with that, I say, get outside, and breath in the rich aroma of the woods, described by The New York Times as smelling of “burnt toast and campfires”. Praise God for this blessing brought to you, even on islands and in cities by the prevailing winds of Mother Nature. Take note of how you feel, and be free to leave it in the comments!
Outlining the benefits here is not to negate any negative effects of the fires, and my prayers go out to those negatively affected. Feel free to elaborate on any negative or positive effects in the comments, as well as use it as a forum for sharing knowledge, helping those affected, and generally for the benefit of everyone’s health and prosperity.
Edit June 27, 2023: After reading Dr. Sircus’s article on forest fires, I will now be cautious about inhaling much smoke from them. As his article explains, mercury is expelled from industrial coal combustion and absorbed by forests. Then, it is released again when they set fire. Activated charcoal is a remedy for mercury poisoning, though, so that is a good sign. He shows that nuclear radiation is also absorbed and released in forest fires, although this is likely more of a concern near nuclear disaster sites, and doesn’t seem to be a major issue for the 2023 Central Canada wildfires.
art by Steve Kuzma
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