https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2025/01/los-angeles-fire-smoke-plastic-toxic/681318/
created by horseradishstalker on 17/01/2025 at 23:59 UTC
671 upvotes, 5 top-level comments (showing 5)
Comment by Synaps4 at 18/01/2025 at 04:05 UTC*
76 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I think we are way behind on recognizing the importance of VOC filters in modern fires. I've seen people throw plastic bags in a camp fire and stand in the smoke.
If you have several thousand tons of cars and couches and vinyl siding and tar shingles burning upwind of you...I don't think our cities or maybe anybody has seriously planned for those health impacts and whether they are reasonable or avoidable. Is staying inside really enough when its not a wood fire anymore? I don't know. I don't think many people do, not even the people who are supposed to prepare for city fires.
Comment by horseradishstalker at 18/01/2025 at 00:02 UTC*
125 upvotes, 2 direct replies
https://archive.ph/SrHDU#selection-805.0-805.53[1][2]
1: https://archive.ph/SrHDU#selection-805.0-805.53
2: https://archive.ph/SrHDU#selection-805.0-805.53
SS: Strong winds cause flames to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but what fuels them matters every bit as much. When everything was made of wood and other natural materials, people had about 14 minutes to escape a burning house. With plastic houses that has gone down to about two minutes. Two minutes to escape with your lives, your momentos, your go bag (please say you have one), your kids, pets, relatives and well forget the rest you are out of time.
As amusing as it may be to mentally picture hundreds of homes as infernos fueled by couches, the reality is lethal and toxic. Even the ashes left behind are toxic. As the smoke people are breathing miles and miles away.
PS N95s are great for capturing particles but do not capture gas-phase toxics - "P100+ organic vapor" masks are needed. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=p100+organic+vapor+mask&t=ffab&atb=v405-1&ia=web[3][4]
3: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=p100+organic+vapor+mask&t=ffab&atb=v405-1&ia=web
4: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=p100+organic+vapor+mask&t=ffab&atb=v405-1&ia=web
Comment by RBeck at 18/01/2025 at 10:30 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
At least it wasn't a week earlier when all the wealthy people had essentially dead pine trees in their house.
Comment by Acrobatic-Ad-4971 at 18/01/2025 at 23:52 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Your Lego gets ruined
Comment by TheFumingatzor at 18/01/2025 at 10:04 UTC
-12 upvotes, 0 direct replies
32 years of working for 4 dollars an hour with a smile, because...what he gon' do? Complain?