Protecting your health becomes a top priority when the air grows hazy with wildfire smoke. These precautions will help you stay safe during wildfire season.
The expression “spreading like wildfire” is not an exaggeration. A wildfire can spread at an alarming rate. The smoke caused by the fire and the poor air quality move far beyond the actual fire. Whether the fire burns in a nearby forest or hundreds of miles away, the adverse effects of wildfires can still reach you and impact your health.
Wildfires are becoming more common and pose significant property and personal safety risks. And with warmer weather comes a higher risk of wildfires. But there’s no need to panic. Use this guide to help you get ready for wildfire season and protect your health during these events.
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How wildfire smoke affects your health
Wildfire smoke is a mix of gases and fine flakes from burning plants, buildings, and other materials. Smoke can harm the lungs, throat, eyes, and nose and may even cause lasting damage to your health. The mix of tiny flakes in the air can enter your lungs and bloodstream and get trapped deep inside them. This can raise the risk of heart attacks, strokes, lung cancer, and brain health issues.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is another threat associated with wildfire smoke. Breathing this dangerous gas makes it harder for your organs and tissues to take in oxygen. This can lead to headaches, nausea, dizziness, and sometimes even death. Other harmful emissions from wildfire smoke include nitrogen oxides and other toxic pollutants.
If you are protecting your health from wildfire smoke, you’ll also want to be wary of extreme heat. During wildfire season, the air may be quite hot and heat waves are becoming more prominent, longer, and more intense. Hot temperatures, in combination with wildfires, can lead to problems with your heart and lungs.
Children and pregnant women are at greater risk of health issues due to smoke and heat, so they’ll want to take extra care during wildfires. The same applies to people with medical conditions such as:
- Asthma
- COPD
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Chronic kidney disease
- Coughing
- Trouble breathing
- Wheezing
- Asthma attacks
- Stinging eyes
- Scratchy throat
- Runny nose
- Irritated sinuses
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Headaches
- Tiredness
- Chest pain
- Fast heartbeat
How to protect your health
When wildfires begin to spread near you, you can protect your health using these measures:
1. Stay informed. Pay attention to local weather forecasts and air quality reports. Use resources like the Air Quality Index (AQI) or your phone’s weather app. These readings can change during the day so keep an eye on them before going outside. Use these sources to keep track of fires near you:
- AirNow’s “Fire and Smoke Map” has a map of North American fires.
- NOAA’s “Fire weather outlook” maps fire watches and warnings.
For emergency alerts, listen to the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio.
2. Stay indoors. When wildfires are active, the best advice is to stay indoors. Choose a room you can close off from outside air, and use a portable air cleaner or a filter to keep the air clean.
3. Wear a mask or respirator. The best type of mask to protect against wildfire smoke is a well-fitted N95 or P100 respirator with straps. The numbers refer to the percentage of particles filtered out by the mask. If you must go outside, it’s a good idea to wear one of these masks or a respirator approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). This can filter out smoke before you breathe it in. A dust mask or bandana won’t protect your lungs.
4. Take it easier when the air is smoky and polluted. You'll want to avoid exercising outside or doing anything strenuous that will result in you taking deep breaths of unsafe air. Instead, try some indoor, at-home workouts. Remember that wildfires can impact your physical health and your mental health, as well. News reports and even looking outside can be stressful, so go easy on yourself and others during this season.
5. Protect yourself from ash. Wildfires can fill the air with ash and while ash is considered nontoxic, it may contain cancerous chemicals and irritate your skin or lungs. If you’re cleaning up after a wildfire, wear gloves, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, shoes, and socks to protect your skin from ash. You can also wear goggles to protect your eyes and a mask to protect your airways.
6. Seek emergency shelter. If the smoke is affecting your health and your symptoms don't improve, change your location and seek medical help. Find a shelter near you if your home is damaged or in a high-risk location. Also heed evacuation warnings. Your local Red Cross can also provide resources, medical help, and disaster relief before, during, and after a wildfire.
Keep your home’s air healthy
Since you’ll most likely be staying inside away from the smoky air, it’s essential to ensure the air is clean wherever you spend the most time. Take these steps to make your home a safe and comfortable space:
- Shut the windows and use an air conditioner with a clean filter. And keep in mind that poor air quality can still find its way into your house. You can improve the air quality in your home by using your stove vent when cooking. An air purifier with a HEPA (high efficiency- particulate air) filter can also be used.
- Avoid activities that increase indoor pollution, especially on poor air quality days. This includes burning candles, using gas stoves, and vacuuming, which can recirculate ash into the air.
- If you have a central air conditioning system, use high-efficiency filters labeled “HEPA“ or MERV 13 or higher. If your AC has a fresh air intake, set it to recirculate or close the outdoor intake.
- Keep windows and doors closed to prevent smoke infiltration. You may even want to use weather stripping on doors and windows to seal gaps.
Preparing for wildfires
Preparation is the first line of defense against wildfires. And this includes doing your part to prevent fires during your summer activities. Nearly 85 percent of wildfires in the United States are started by humans. Hot winds and dry lumber only add to the risk of wildfires.
So, a great way to protect your health from wildfire smoke is to prevent them from happening and know what to do if they do occur.
How to help prevent wildfires
Do your part to prevent wildfires by taking these precautions:
- Dispose of smoking materials safely and supervise children around a fire.
- Only burn yard waste as permitted and avoid combustible materials.
- Use fireworks responsibly (check the legality in your state) or don’t use them at all. If you do use them, keep water nearby and avoid windy conditions.
- Don’t light a fire on a windy night or in dry vegetation; never leave a fire unattended. Follow all fire regulations in campsites and make sure to check and see if there is a burn ban before you light a fire. Before leaving, always ensure your fire is fully put out with water or covered with dirt.
- Avoid parking on dry grass and stay away from oil spills to prevent vehicle-related fires.
- Support community wildfire prevention efforts by managing vegetation and using fire-resistant construction.
If you want to learn how to lower the risk of fires around your home, read more here and follow the prevention checklist.
Steps to take before a potential wildfire
Wildfires can spread very quickly, sometimes giving you little time to evacuate. So, if a wildfire does occur, it’s helpful to feel confident in your plan before you need to use it. Here are some critical steps you can take before a wildfire happens:
1. Know your community’s evacuation plans. Get to know local evacuation routes and shelter locations. It’s also important to have a plan for your pets and livestock.
2. Stock up on the groceries and medications you need. Since it’s vital to stay inside to avoid wildfire smoke, try to stockpile nonperishable food and fill any prescriptions you’ll need for the next few weeks.
3. Learn what to do in case of a power outage. Large fires can cause power outages, so have a family disaster plan/emergency kit ready (which you’ll learn how to put together below).
4. Create a fire-resistant zone. Clear leaves, debris, or flammable materials for at least 30 feet from your home. Using fire-resistant materials for construction can also reduce risk.
5. Create an emergency evacuation bag. This includes water, nonperishable food, medications, and essential documents. Also, consider adding NIOSH-approved respirators to your bag. Keep the emergency kit in your car or an accessible place, ready to grab and go. Here are some more items you should include in your evacuation bag:
- First aid kit with bandages, antiseptics, and pain relievers
- Flashlights and extra batteries
- Copies of personal ID and important documents
- A whistle to signal for help in case you are trapped or lost
- Sanitation supplies
- A change of clothes and sturdy shoes
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- A battery-powered radio to stay updated on emergency information
- Extra cash
- A list of emergency contacts
- Pet supplies if you have animals
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This information is not intended to take the place of regular medical care or advice. Please check with your doctor before using this information or beginning any self-care program. Images used for this article do not depict any members of the Silver&Fit program.
References
American Lung Association. (2020). Protect your health during wildfires. https://www.lung.org/getmedia/695663e2-bdb8-4a61-9322-02657f530b99/protect-your-health-during-wildfires-5-29-2020-%281%29.pdf
American Red Cross. (2019, July 25). How to stay safe if a wildfire threatens. Redcross.org. https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2019/how-to-stay-safe-if-a-wildfire-threatens.html
American Red Cross. (n.d.). How to prevent wildfires. Redcross.org. https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/wildfire/how-to-prevent-wildfires.html
Armitage, H. (2021, September 20). Protecting your health (and sanity) during wildfire season. Scope; Stanford Medicine. https://scopeblog.stanford.edu/2021/09/20/protecting-your-health-and-sanity-during-wildfire-season/
Boulder County Public Health. (n.d.). Safe cleanup of wildfire ash. Boulder County. https://bouldercounty.gov/safety/fire/safe-cleanup-of-wildfire-ash/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, April 30). Safety during a wildfire. https://www.cdc.gov/wildfires/safety/how-to-safely-stay-safe-during-a-wildfire.html
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, April 19). Wildfires and your safety. https://www.cdc.gov/wildfires/about/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/wildfires/index.html
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D’Evelyn, S. M., Jung, J., Alvarado, E., Baumgartner, J., Caligiuri, P., Hagmann, R. K., Henderson, S. B., Hessburg, P. F., Hopkins, S., Kasner, E. J., Krawchuk, M. A., Krenz, J. E., Lydersen, J. M., Marlier, M. E., Masuda, Y. J., Metlen, K., Mittelstaedt, G., Prichard, S. J., Schollaert, C. L., & Smith, E. B. (2022). Wildfire, smoke exposure, human health, and environmental justice need to be integrated into forest restoration and management. Current Environmental Health Reports, 9(3). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40572-022-00355-7
Macmillan, C. (2023, June 28). How harmful is wildfire smoke for your health? Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/how-bad-is-wildfire-smoke-for-your-health
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This article was written by Celina Johnson, edited by Sharon Odegaard, and clinically reviewed by Elizabeth Thompson, MPH, RDN, June 23, 2024.
