
This is part of a new series called “Extreme Living: Climate Disruption Stories,” where we share stories from Moms members about family life in an age of extremes. Read stories about extreme heat here and about flooding here.
Anyone who has talked to me in the last year knows that my daughter is on a summer swim team, and I am re-living my own childhood summers through her. Not only does she swim in the same community league I did, but her practices are in the same pool where I practiced when I was eight years old. The nostalgia is real.
But about a year ago, I was reminded how much times have changed in the 30-plus years since my first summer swim season. We arrived at the pool and immediately noticed the haze in the air. At first, my husband and I thought the kids playing on the volleyball court next door had kicked up a bunch of sand. But we quickly realized it was in fact smoke from Canadian wildfires hundreds of miles away.
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Since last summer’s wildfire season, nearly everyone in the U.S. has an alarming or eerie story like this one—about how wildfires supercharged by climate change have disrupted our daily lives, our health, and our plans for the future.
Here are a few wildfire stories we’ve collected from our Moms members:
Chelsea Lyons, North Carolina
“Since becoming a mom of a little boy, I have had to readjust my life to make sure my child is safe and protected. During the Canadian wildfires last summer, I had to prohibit outdoor play for a few weeks because soot pollution levels were unsafe for myself and my child. During that time, my son would cough excessively. My husband and I felt anxiety about how to properly protect our child from something so out of our control.”
Celestina Garcia, New Mexico
“The wildfires of northern New Mexico in 2023 and 2024 … caused undue stress, fears, precaution, increased physical work, financial loss, and debt. Feeling unsafe at home has negatively affected all our health—mind, body, and spirit. Our lives are forever changed by the loss of community members who have moved away because they don’t have the resources or capacity to rebuild. Our beautiful lands—the elder trees and wildlife—will never be restored within our lifetime.”
Laurie Anderson, Colorado
“As we face more extreme weather, my community has had to adapt and become more resilient in the face of nature’s unpredictability. With each new red flag warning—which indicates that the danger of rapidly spreading wildfires is high—we keep a ‘to-go’ bag packed in case of evacuation and air filters ready in case we have to shelter in place.”
Tracy Sabetta, Ohio
“Smoke from Canadian wildfires last summer had a severe negative impact on my family’s health. Two days in June 2023 had such severe soot pollution that the air was declared unhealthy for everyone in Central Ohio to breathe for the first time since 2003. My husband had a massive heart attack and surgery in 2022, and he had to change his routine to stay inside for those two days because of the potential impacts on his health.”
Stephanie Reese, Virginia
“During last year’s wildfires, I had to pick up my son from school early because they allowed the children to wait outside even during Code Orange days. Also, we had to wear face masks to protect my son, who has difficulty breathing. Although his condition has not been diagnosed as asthma (even though it persists), it was triggered by the poor air quality and pollution caused by the wildfires.”
My daughter is, of course, back on the swim team this summer—swimming is pure joy for my girl. But now we make sure to check the Air Quality Index before we head to the pool every day. Like the Moms in these stories, my family is doing whatever we can to protect our health and preserve some childhood summer magic in times that can feel apocalyptic.
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