Rep Bruce Westerman The Only Licensed Forester in Congress Talking Smoke

Rep Bruce Westerman (R-AR) is Chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources and the only licensed forester in Congress. We'll discuss the East Coast getting wildfire smoke similar to what we here in the West are all too accustomed to, and what measures can be taken to reduce this significant health risk and fire damage in the future.

•About 3.8 million hectares (9.4 million acres) have already burned, some 15 times the 10-year average, said Federal Minister of Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair (Reuters)

•Currently, 414 wildfires are burning, 239 of which are determined to be out of control (Reuters)

•Quebec is the most affected Canadian Providence, with 20 US States across the Northeast being impacted as well (ABC News)

•The current burn area is larger than the State of Vermont (ABC News)

•Current air quality index levels in the Northeast are over 400, with anything over 300 being considered hazardous and 50 or below considered good (AP News)

•The fires started in late April but have intensified in recent weeks – spurred on by a country-wide drought (CBS News)

•President Biden has deployed more than 600 firefighters and support personnel to assist (CBS News)