Wildfire smoke worsens air, ER visits rise in Savannah

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - The flames may be burning miles away, but the smoke is already showing up in Savannah-area emergency rooms.

Wildfires burning in South Georgia — including a large fire in Brantley County that officials say has impacted dozens of homes and destroyed 54 houses, according to a county commissioner — are sending smoke across coastal Georgia and affecting air quality, health officials say.

Dr. Timothy Connelly, an internal medicine specialist at Memorial Health in Savannah, said smoke can be dangerous even for people who are far from the fire lines.

“Because it’s not just the fire that you have to be afraid of, the smoke itself can be very deadly at times,” Connelly said.

Connelly said Memorial Health is seeing more patients come in with respiratory complaints, making up as much as 10% of the ER visits, as smoke moves into the area.

“Right now we have 10 people in our emergency rooms that are having respiratory issues,” Connelly said. “This smoke from the wildfires are starting to affect some people and we’re starting to see it in our offices as well.”

Connelly encouraged people to limit their exposure by staying indoors as much as possible when smoke is present especially for those who are more prone to respiratory issues.

“Try their best to avoid any outdoor activities or staying outdoors any longer than you need to,” he said. “People with asthma, COPD, people with the extreme of age are at a high acceptability of smoke and inhalation injury. For those individuals, it can creep up on them very fast.”

The Coastal Health District also urged residents across southeastern and coastal Georgia to take precautions while smoke remains in the air.

Health officials recommend staying inside and keeping indoor air as clean as possible by closing windows and doors and running air conditioning with the fresh-air intake closed. They also advise avoiding indoor activities that increase pollution, such as smoking or vaping, burning candles or incense, spraying aerosol products or vacuuming unless a vacuum has a HEPA filter.

Residents with chronic health conditions should follow their doctor’s guidance and keep medications on hand, Connelly adds. Anyone experiencing worsening symptoms or trouble breathing should seek medical attention.

“I do recommend that everyone heed the warnings of the authorities, and if you’re in an evacuation zone please evacuate,” Connelly said. “Stay away from these fires the best you can.”