Wildfire smoke this year woke up places unaccustomed to its effects. Now what?

A helicopter flies above a wildfire burning in Canada this summer. Smoke from these wildfires floated hundreds of miles, blanketing much of North America in toxic air. (James MacDonald/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

This summer, millions of people across the eastern U.S. woke up one June morning to apocalyptic orange skies and thick, choking wildfire smoke.

Over the summer, massive Canadian wildfires blanketed central and eastern North America with smoke that lingered on and off for months, sending hundreds of people to the hospital. The unprecedented smoke, which showed up in parts of the country where it had never before been a problem, highlighted the growing and inescapable health risks from climate-related issues. And it showed how far many places have to go to help people protect themselves from the risks.