Skies in western US turn orange and red as air becomes thick with wildfire smoke

The sky hasn’t been getting its tint from the color of the flames raging nearby. NASA explains that the phenomenon is due to the smoke.

“The smoke particles from the fires allow sunlight’s longer wavelength colors like red and orange to get through while blocking the shorter wavelengths of yellow, blue and green,” NASA reported. “Those longer wavelengths give the sky a red or orange tinted appearance. Similarly, during sunrise and sunset times when the sun is near the horizon, sunlight has to travel through more of Earth’s atmosphere to get to you. The additional atmosphere filters out the shorter wavelengths and allows the longer wavelengths to get through, providing reds and oranges during those times.”

Photos of the skies peppered various social media platforms on Wednesday, with some calling the spectacle “apocalyptic.”

The mayor of San Francisco said that the smoke hasn’t yet had a significant impact on air quality because of the height of the smoke. However, conditions could worsen.

Authorities say at least seven people have died amid the wildfires in California, Oregon, and Washington, including a 1-year-old boy. His parents suffered severe burns. In Mehama, Oregon, the remains of a 12-year-old boy, his grandmother, and his dog were found in a vehicle. A family member said they were attempting to escape the blaze.

Firefighters are struggling to contain the multiple wildfires across the region, and thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes.