We currently have a device in NYC. Due to recent wildfires, New York city is experiencing extremely poor air quality ratings. Our devices in this city have been experiencing a higher than average number of errors. Could there be a relationship?
In my experience fire (as in actual flames) does interfere with radio signals since it can produce plasma that adds broadband interference across a wide bandwidth.
Smoke in the air is generally less of a problem since it is refractive and has a measurable but relatively small effect on radio propagation. I'm sure there are exceptions to this for specific frequencies and I would worry about line-of-sight signals at say 40 GHz a lot more than typically WiFi or cellular signals. Obviously as RF approaches the frequency bands of light the problems would likely get worse.
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Thank you for the insights.