Frequent Questions About Wildland Fire Smoke for Individuals

The below questions and answers were designed to help individuals, especially those new to experiencing smoke impacts, protect themselves and their family's health during a wildland fire smoke event. 

On this page: 

1. What is wildland fire smoke?
2. What is a wildland fire smoke event?
3. What are the potential health effects associated with smoke exposure from wildland fires?
4. Who is at risk of health effects from wildland fire smoke? 
5. How do I check the air quality in my community during a smoke event? 
6. What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?  
7. How do I use the Air Quality Index (AQI) to reduce my exposure to smoke and protect my health? 
8. What actions can I take to reduce smoke exposure if I need to be outside or travel in a vehicle?
9. How can I reduce my exposure to smoke when indoors at home? 
10. How can air cleaners be used to reduce smoke exposures indoors? How can I make my own air cleaner?
11. What should I do if smoke persists for multiple days or multiple times during a year (compared to a singular smoke event)? 
12. How can I stay cool indoors during a smoke event when temperatures are high? 
13. How can I protect my pets and/or livestock during a smoke event? What if I must evacuate?
14. What can I do to reduce stress during a smoke event?
15. How do I safely clean up wildfire ash?

1. What is wildland fire smoke? 

Wildfires can be dangerous and detrimental to public health due to the fire itself, but the smoke emitted is often a larger risk to public health as it can travel far distances (i.e., hundreds to thousands of miles) and impact people near and far from the fire. Smoke is a complex mixture of air pollutants, of which fine particulate matter (PM2.5; particles with an aerodynamic diameter generally less than or equal to 2.5 µm) is the pollutant of greatest health concern.  

There has been a growing trend in the number of acres burned by wildfires over the last few decades, which has resulted in a corresponding increase in smoke emitted and impacts on air quality.

Smoke can also come from prescribed fires (or planned fire), which are a critical tool for managing vegetation and mitigating future wildfire impacts, allowing for a more managed smoke event and a better prepared public than during a wildfire.  

2. What is a wildland fire smoke event?

A wildland fire smoke event is any instance when wildland fire smoke impacts a community.

3. What are the potential health effects associated with smoke exposure from wildland fires? 

Most healthy adults and children recover quickly from smoke exposure and will not suffer from long-lasting health effects. Health effects from short-term (daily up to a few days) exposures to wildland fire smoke can range from less serious (e.g., stinging eyes, runny nose, irritated sinuses, scratchy throat, coughing, headaches, and tiredness) to more serious (respiratory-related effects [e.g., reduced lung function, bronchitis, exacerbation of asthma], and cardiovascular-related effects [e.g., myocardial infarction, exacerbation of heart failure, and premature death). At-risk or sensitive groups in particular should take necessary precautions to reduce smoke exposure to protect their health. For more information, please visit the AirNow Fires and Your Health page.

4. Who is at risk to the health effects from wildland fire smoke? 

Most healthy adults and children will recover quickly from short-term (i.e., daily) smoke exposure. However, some people may be at increased risk of both immediate and long-lasting health effects because of smoke exposure. These groups, also called "sensitive groups" should take more precautions when the air quality is in one of the unhealthy categories relative to people who are not in these groups, but everyone should take precautions when air quality trends into unhealthy and worse levels.  

In people with chronic diseases, such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other lung diseases and cardiovascular diseases like heart failure and arrythmias, and related conditions (e.g., diabetes or obesity), smoke can trigger severe respiratory or cardiovascular events leading to trips to the emergency department, hospital stays, or even death.  

Children up to 18 years of age are at greater risk of smoke-related health effects, because their lungs are still growing. Children are more likely to be exposed to smoke because they spend more time outdoors, engage in more vigorous activity, and inhale more air per pound of body weight compared to adults. Older adults are potentially at greater risk because they are more likely to have undiagnosed heart or lung disease or diabetes. In addition, the body’s ability to respond to health challenges generally declines with age. Lastly, during pregnancy, changes occur in the body (such as increased breathing rates) that may increase the woman’s sensitivity to smoke exposure and affect her baby.  

People with higher exposure may experience worsening of underlying health conditions, which could lead to increased risk of respiratory- or cardiovascular-related trips to the emergency department or hospital stays, and to death. People from some ethnic and racial minority groups and people with lower incomes may have less access to measures to reduce smoke exposure, while outdoor workers can be exposed to high concentrations of smoke for extended periods of time.  

Learn more about when to be concerned about wildland fire smoke, who is at risk and why, and how to protect your health with the At-Risk Groups of People factsheet.  

5. How do I check the air quality in my community during a smoke event? 

The U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) can assist in determining whether wildland fire smoke is impacting air quality in your area and when individuals should consider taking action to reduce exposure. Information on air quality in your community during a smoke event can be found on the Fire and Smoke Map on the AirNow.gov website or AirNow App. AirNow.gov has current and forecast air quality data and maps for the five major air pollutants for which National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are set. The Fire and Smoke Map is a specialized product to be used during smoke events as it displays a large spatial scale of monitors and corresponding AQIs, displays smoke plumes, and provides information on individual fires. As smoke concentrations during a wildfire can change quickly, it’s important to check the AQI frequently for updates to current smoke levels and predictions. 

To learn more about how to use the Fire and Smoke Map, visit the How to Use Map webpage.  

6. What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)? 

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a nationally uniform color-coded index developed by EPA which is designed to communicate to people whether air quality is healthy or unhealthy, and to inform people when they may want to consider taking steps to reduce their exposure. The AQI reports air quality information for the most common air pollutants (also referred to as criteria pollutants) for which the EPA has set National Ambient Air Quality Standards (or NAAQS) to protect public health and welfare. The AQI translates the amount (or concentration) of each pollutant measured in the air to a more easily understood number, ranging from 0 to 500. During wildland fire events the AQI most often represents the amount of PM_2.5 being measured in the air. See below for the AQI basics chart and visit the AirNow AQI Basics webpage for additional information. 

7. How do I use the Air Quality Index (AQI) to reduce my exposure to smoke and protect my health? 

Depending on the category of the Air Quality Index (AQI), there are corresponding messages on actions people can take to reduce exposure to smoke as air quality worsens, especially if they are a member of an at-risk (or sensitive) group. When the AQI is above 100, air quality is considered unhealthy, at first for members of at-risk (or sensitive) groups, then for everyone as AQI values increase. When using the Fire and Smoke Map, if a user clicks on a monitor that is close to where they live, it will report current air quality conditions and recommended actions they can take to protect their health.  

8. What actions can I take to reduce smoke exposure if I need to be outside or travel in a vehicle? 

Prior to going outside, check the Air Quality Index (AQI) to understand air quality conditions and consider actions you can take to reduce your smoke exposure. Because smoke levels can change a lot during the day, try to wait until air quality is better before you are active outdoors.  

9. How can I reduce my exposure to smoke when indoors at home? 

The strategies below can help protect your indoor air quality at home during wildfires: 

10. How can air cleaners be used to reduce smoke exposure indoors? How can I make my own air cleaner? 

A: Air cleaners can reduce smoke exposure indoors by capturing fine particles present in smoke. Follow these tips to use air cleaners to reduce smoke exposure: 

11. What should I do if smoke persists for multiple days or multiple times during a year (compared to a singular smoke event)? 

Always take steps to reduce smoke exposure, regardless of the duration of smoke occurring (e.g., one day, multiple consecutive days, or multiple times during a year). The longer and more often you are exposed to smoke, the more important it is to reduce your exposure. In the case of a multi-day smoke event, it is recommended that people are more vigorous in taking exposure reduction actions.   

12. How can I stay cool indoors during a smoke event when temperatures are high? 

When temperatures are high, you must cool down your home, and you may need to allow some smoke inside while using night air for cooling. Both smoke and heat can be harmful to your health, but for most people, heat is more immediately dangerous. How you cool your home will determine what actions you should take during a smoke event.  

13. How can I protect my pets and/or livestock during a smoke event? What if I must evacuate?

Your animals can be affected by wildland fire smoke. If you feel the effects of smoke, they probably do too! High levels of smoke are harmful. Long exposure to lower levels of smoke can also irritate animals’ eyes and respiratory tracts and make it hard for them to breathe. Reduce your animals’ exposure to smoke the same way you reduce your own: spend less time in smoky areas and limit physical activity. Animals with heart or lung disease, or older, pregnant and very young animals, are especially at risk and should be closely watched during all periods of poor air quality. Keep in mind that the effects of exposure to smoke and heat together are likely worse than smoke alone, so if applicable, encourage more time in cooler or shady areas and make plenty of water available. 

14. What can I do to reduce stress during a smoke event? 

Wildfire smoke can be in the air for days or even weeks and may lead to feelings of stress, uncertainty, isolation, anxiety, and depression. Stress can be caused by limiting your daily outdoor activities, isolating from friends and family, and disrupting daily routines. Smoke can also trigger negative memories of other fires.  

15. How do I safely clean up wildfire ash?

When wildfire is closer to home, harmful ash may be deposited on surfaces both indoors and outdoors and can be inhaled if it becomes airborne when you clean up. Ash from burned structures may be more hazardous than ash produced from the burning of trees, shrubs, and other natural materials. Regardless of the materials burned to produce ash, you should limit exposure. Children, older adults, and people with heart or lung diseases, such as asthma, should not participate in cleanup work.