The smoke rising from California hillsides and Canadian boreal forests does not stay where it starts. In 2026, it is drifting east, south, and into the homes, schools, and lungs of Americans who live thousands of miles from any active fire line — including pregnant people in Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.
As of early June 2026, wildfires in the United States had burned 2.4 million acres — nearly double the 10-year average for the same point in the season, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. About 17% of the country is already in extreme drought. Conditions are expected to worsen. The EPA's AirNow fire and smoke platform is currently tracking active smoke impacts across multiple states, with alerts issued as far east as the Gulf Coast and the Mid-Atlantic.
The year 2023 demonstrated the national reach of wildfire smoke: Canadian wildfires blanketed New York City and Philadelphia in a haze so thick that the sky turned orange, schools cancelled outdoor activities, and emergency departments across the Northeast recorded a 17% increase in asthma-related visits above expected baseline levels, per CDC and EPA joint analysis. In 2025, Canadian fires burned more than double the 10-year average acreage — the country's second-worst wildfire season on record, producing additional transboundary smoke events across the eastern United States. 2026 is tracking to continue or worsen this pattern.
Climate Central's research found that the rise in wildfire smoke since 2016 has either stalled or reversed decades of air quality improvements achieved through the Clean Air Act in 30 U.S. states, including states far from the western fire epicenter. About three-quarters of smoke-related mortality and asthma illness occur in states other than the fire origin states, due to long-range smoke transport and the high population density of eastern regions.
| 2026 Wildfire and Smoke Health Summary | Data |
| Acres burned in U.S. through early June 2026 | 2.4 million (double 10-year average) |
| U.S. in extreme drought | ~17% of country |
| States with stalled or reversed air quality gains from smoke | 30 |
| Estimated U.S. wildfire smoke deaths annually (UCLA 2026) | 24,000+ |
| Three-quarters of smoke mortality occurs | In states other than fire origin states |
| Increase in asthma ED visits during 2023 Canadian smoke events | +17% above expected |
| Peak asthma ED increase | HHS Region 2 (New York, New Jersey) |
The Pregnancy Emergency — What Smoke Does Before a Baby Is Born
The health risks of wildfire smoke are well-known for people with asthma, COPD, and heart disease. The pregnancy risks are far less understood — and may be more severe.
A January 2026 study published in Environmental Science & Technology and reported by NBC News analyzed health records from more than 200,000 births in Southern California from 2006 to 2014 and found that third-trimester wildfire smoke exposure was associated with a statistically significant increase in autism risk in children: 10% higher risk with 1 to 5 smoky days, 12% higher with 6 to 10 days, and 23% higher with more than 10 smoky days during the third trimester. This was the first study to examine a direct link between prenatal wildfire smoke exposure and autism.
Broader research published in Environmental Science & Technology has also found that wildfire smoke exposure during pregnancy is associated with elevated odds of small-for-gestational-age births, low birth weight, and fetal growth restriction — with effects strongest in women who lived near the highest-vulnerability neighborhoods throughout their pregnancies. Research cited in MedicalDaily's prior coverage of the 2026 wildfire season, sourced from a study in Lancet Planetary Health, found that wildfire smoke exposure during pregnancy was associated with significantly elevated odds of preterm birth across multiple U.S. states and multiple fire seasons.
The EPA confirms that pregnant women are at heightened risk from wildfire smoke and "may also be at greater risk of health impacts" — a category explicitly noted alongside the more commonly cited groups of children, older adults, and people with chronic disease. The fine particulate matter in wildfire smoke (PM2.5) crosses the placental barrier, enters fetal circulation, and has been linked to systemic inflammatory responses in fetal tissue at exposures well below thresholds that cause visible respiratory symptoms in adults.
Who Needs to Act Now — and What the Guidance Says
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency's summer 2026 air quality outlook issued earlier this year specified that "sensitive groups like older adults, all children under 18, pregnant people, and those with heart or lung conditions face higher risks" from wildfire smoke — framing pregnant people alongside the most vulnerable populations. The agency specifically advised that "outdoor workers and people who participate in vigorous outdoor exercise are also at higher risk."
The EPA's AirNow Fire and Smoke Map is the most reliable tool for checking current smoke-driven air quality at the zip code level. Pregnant people living in the Midwest, South, or East who do not think of themselves as living in "wildfire country" should check this map daily during the June–September wildfire peak, particularly during periods when western fire activity is elevated, or Canadian smoke events are active.
During orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) or red (Unhealthy) AQI days driven by smoke, pregnant people should avoid prolonged outdoor activity, keep windows closed, run HVAC systems on recirculate mode, use portable air purifiers with HEPA filters in sleeping areas, and wear a properly fitted N95 mask if outdoor exposure is unavoidable. Smoke can penetrate most standard surgical or cloth masks at the particle sizes most dangerous to fetal health.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many acres have wildfires burned in the U.S. in 2026?
As of early June 2026, approximately 2.4 million acres had burned — nearly double the 10-year average for that point in the season, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
Which states are affected by wildfire smoke in 2026?
Climate Central's research confirms that wildfire smoke has stalled or reversed air quality gains in 30 U.S. states since 2016, including states across the Midwest, South, and East, not just the West. Canadian fires in particular have produced transboundary smoke events reaching the Gulf Coast and Northeast.
Is wildfire smoke dangerous during pregnancy?
Yes. A January 2026 study in Environmental Science & Technology found that wildfire smoke exposure in the third trimester was associated with up to 23% higher autism risk with 10+ smoky days. Additional research links prenatal smoke exposure to preterm birth, low birth weight, and fetal growth restriction.
How can I tell if there is dangerous smoke in my area?
Check EPA's AirNow Fire and Smoke Map daily for real-time air quality updates at your zip code. AQI values of 101 (orange) or above indicate risk for sensitive groups; values above 151 (red) are unhealthy for everyone. Sign up for email air quality alerts through your state's environmental agency.
What should pregnant people do on high-smoke days?
Stay indoors with windows closed and HVAC on recirculate mode. Run a HEPA air purifier in your sleeping area. If you must go outside, wear a properly fitted N95 mask — standard surgical or cloth masks are insufficient for wildfire smoke particles at the sizes most harmful to fetal health. The EPA recommends checking air quality before outdoor activity and prioritizing indoor time when smoke levels are elevated.
