# Wildfire Smoke and Air Quality Safety

Protect breathing, improve indoor air, assess evacuation, and avoid smoke and ash hazards.

## Immediate rule

Quick-reference sequence. Immediate threats, official orders, and professional medical advice take precedence.

## Five practical skills

## Track official smoke and fire warnings

- Enable local emergency alerts and follow fire service, public health, and air-quality advisories.
- Know both an evacuation route and an alternate that does not enter fire or smoke. Do not wait to see flames when officials direct you to leave.
- Check outdoor particle-pollution reports when available; particulate pollution may travel far beyond flames.
- Close windows and vents when outdoor smoke is heavy unless doing so makes indoor heat or other conditions dangerous.
- Keep fuel, documents, medicine, and pets ready for immediate safe departure.
## Create a cleaner indoor-air room

- Choose a room large enough for those sheltering, preferably with few doors/windows and an available safe air-cleaner power source.
- Close windows and doors; use a properly sized HEPA portable air cleaner where possible. Use appropriate high-efficiency HVAC filters if the system supports them.
- Set air conditioning to recirculate where available rather than drawing in outdoor smoky air; follow equipment instructions.
- Avoid candles, indoor smoking, vacuuming without good filtration, frying, burning incense, and other particle-generating activities.
- Watch room temperature and ventilation risks: move to a cleaner, cooler location if the room becomes dangerously hot or unsafe.
Important safety limit

Never seal a room so tightly that it becomes unsafe. Carbon-monoxide hazards from generators, grills, or stoves remain life-threatening.

## Use suitable respirators and plan travel

- If an adult must be outdoors in smoky conditions, a properly fitted NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 particle respirator can reduce exposure to fine smoke particles.
- Check for a close fit; facial hair and gaps reduce protection. Cloth and ordinary surgical masks are not substitutes for an effective particle respirator.
- Do not assume a particle respirator protects against hazardous gases such as carbon monoxide or industrial chemicals.
- Follow public-health advice for children or people who cannot wear a well-fitting respirator; seek cleaner indoor air or relocate.
- In vehicles close windows and use recirculate mode where possible, stay alert for reduced visibility, and do not drive into a fire closure.
## Protect people with greater health risks

- Prioritize children, older adults, pregnant people, and those with heart/lung illness or disability for cleaner air and early movement to safer shelter.
- Keep prescriptions, inhalers, medical equipment and power supplies accessible; follow individual care plans.
- Reduce exertion outdoors and encourage frequent check-ins for breathing difficulty or unusual fatigue.
- Seek urgent care for severe breathlessness, chest pain, confusion, collapse, or other emergency symptoms.
- Avoid relying solely on N95 masks for young children: fit, comfort, and suitability vary; indoor filtration and relocation are safer primary controls.
## Return and clean up after smoke safely

- Check for downed power lines, unstable structures, hot debris, damaged gas systems, and ash before entering.
- Use appropriate respiratory and skin protection for dusty cleanup; avoid dry sweeping that sends ash into the air.
- Wet ash carefully only if local advice allows and it will not spread contamination; collect and dispose according to local instructions.
- Replace dirty filters and inspect ventilation systems before normal use.
- Discard food exposed to ash/soot or unsafe heat where advised by food-safety guidance and use safe drinking water.
## Practice and preparation

- Find your official local air-quality and fire-warning channels.
- Check the correct HVAC recirculation setting and compatible filter.
- Identify an alternative cleaner-air location with a safe route.
- Assemble a grab-bag with medicines, masks, identification, water and chargers.
Local rules and real emergencies

Use this as a training reference. Follow official incident alerts, regional law, manufacturer instructions, and qualified professional guidance. Do not attempt unfamiliar high-risk activities while already in danger.

- US EPA — Protect Yourself from Smoke and Ash
- US EPA — Create a Clean Room
- US EPA — Wildfires and Indoor Air Quality
Official guidance may vary by country and can be revised; verify local updates before acting.