Can breathing wildfire smoke make you sick? 

In California, the air quality during wildfires has been known to exceed WHO standards for safe air by 60 times, when pollution concentration in the air has been as high as 1,500 micrograms per cubic meter.

1. Breathing in wildfire smoke, made up of toxic gases and fine particles (PM 2.5), poses an increased health risk since these fine particles can enter the lungs and travel through the bloodstream inducing inflammation.
2. It can exacerbate conditions those with pre-existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease can also cause acute lower respiratory tract infections for healthy individuals.
3. Depending on the degree of smoke exposure, health effects may range from reduced lung function to heart and lung diseases.