Μake us preferred on GoogleThe peak of the fire season finds Europe already badly hit by forest fires. A common thread running through all these areas is that the negative effects of wildfires are not distributed evenly. The crisis highlights the need for climate-resilient health systems, stronger air quality monitoring, and more effective early warning systems, the report notes. The health effects are even more severe for people who already live in areas with poor air quality, limited access to healthcare, and pre-existing conditions. Studies have estimated that outdoor fires (forest fires, fires near urban areas, and so on) contribute to as many as 1.59 million premature deaths worldwide each year.