Wildfire Smoke: How to Protect Yourself

                                             Figure 1. Wildfires. Source: Al-Jazeera.

Every year, wildfires affect millions of people around the world. The number of people affected by wildfires is increasing over time due to climate change (Velev, 2025). Even if you live far from an active wildfire, smoke can travel hundreds or even thousands of miles, reducing air quality and affecting your health (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2025a). Wildfire smoke is more than just an unpleasant smell or a hazy sky, it contains tiny particles and harmful gases that can make it harder to breathe and increase the risk of illness (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2025b). Understanding what wildfire smoke is and knowing how to protect yourself can help keep you and your family safe during wildfire season.

Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of gases and microscopic particles produced when vegetation, buildings, vehicles, and other materials burn (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2025b). One of the greatest health concerns is a type of air pollution known as PM2.5, or fine particulate matter (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2024b). These particles are less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2024b). Since these particles are so small, they can travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2024b). Wildfire smoke also contains carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other chemicals that can irritate the eyes, nose, throat, and lungs (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2025a). All of these compounds and particles can cause human health issues as we learned previously.

                         Figure 2. People in a city with heavy wildfire smoke. Source: New York Times.

Breathing wildfire smoke can affect people in different ways. Short-term exposure may cause burning eyes, a sore throat, coughing, wheezing, headaches, fatigue, or shortness of breath (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024b). People with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart disease, or other chronic medical conditions may experience more serious problems (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024b). Wildfire smoke can trigger asthma attacks, worsen chronic lung diseases, increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, and lead to more emergency room visits and hospitalizations during periods of poor air quality (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024b).

Some people are especially vulnerable to wildfire smoke. Children breathe more air relative to their body size than adults, and their lungs are still developing (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024a). Older adults often have underlying heart or lung conditions that make them more sensitive to air pollution (Jin et al., 2022). Pregnant individuals, people with chronic diseases, and outdoor workers who spend long hours outside may also face greater health risks (Zhang, 2023). All people should take care during less-than-optimal air quality days as all people can be affect, although healthier people may take longer to be affected by the wildfire smoke. 

How to protect yourself?

One of the best ways to protect yourself is to monitor your local air quality. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a simple tool that reports how clean or polluted the air is and whether it may pose a health risk (Horn & Dasgupta, 2024). As AQI values increase, so does the potential for health effects (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). When wildfire smoke is present, staying indoors as much as possible can reduce your exposure (Burke et al., 2022). Keep windows and doors closed and use air conditioning if available, making sure it is set to recirculate indoor air rather than bringing smoky air inside (Islam, 2025). If you have access to a portable air purifier with a HEPA filter, using it in one room can create a cleaner space where you and your family can spend most of your time until air quality improves (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2014).

                                            Figure 3. Air Quality Index. This provides information on the level of air                                                quality and how it affects people who are healthy. For people with health                                                conditions such as diabetes, lung, and heart diseases, the scale changes                                                      based on how severe your condition is.

If you must spend time outdoors when smoke levels are high, wearing a properly fitted N95 or KN95 respirator can help filter many of the fine particles found in wildfire smoke (Rice et al., 2023). A respirator works best when it forms a tight seal against the face. Cloth masks and surgical masks, while useful for reducing the spread of respiratory infections, do not provide adequate protection against the tiny particles that make wildfire smoke hazardous (Wagner et al., 2022).

                                            Figure 4. N95 Respirator. Source: People.com

Physical activity should also be adjusted during smoky conditions. Exercise increases your breathing rate, causing you to inhale more air as well as more smoke particles with each breath (Dominelli & Sheel, 2024). Consider moving workouts indoors or postponing strenuous outdoor activities until air quality improves. Paying attention to how you feel is equally important. If you experience severe shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, or symptoms that worsen despite taking precautions, seek medical attention promptly.

Wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe in many parts of the world, making wildfire smoke an increasingly important public health concern. Although you cannot control where the smoke travels, you can take practical steps to reduce your exposure. Staying informed about local air quality, limiting outdoor activities when smoke is heavy, creating cleaner indoor air, and wearing a properly fitted N95 or KN95 respirator when necessary can significantly reduce your risk. Small actions taken during smoky conditions can help protect your lungs, your heart, and your overall health until cleaner air returns.

Recap

  Monitor air quality: Check the Air Quality Index (AQI) daily to determine whether it is safe to spend time outdoors.

  Limit outdoor activities: Reduce time outside when air quality is unhealthy, especially if you are in a sensitive group.

  Stay indoors: Keep windows and doors closed to minimize smoke entering your home.

  Use air conditioning wisely: Set your air conditioner to recirculate indoor air instead of bringing smoky outdoor air inside.

  Create a clean air room: Use a portable HEPA air purifier in one room to reduce indoor smoke particles.

  Reduce indoor pollution: Avoid burning candles, smoking, frying foods, or other activities that generate additional indoor air pollution.

  Wear an appropriate respirator: If you must go outside, wear a properly fitted N95 or KN95 respirator. Cloth and surgical masks do not effectively filter wildfire smoke particles.

  Avoid strenuous exercise outdoors: Physical activity increases your breathing rate, causing you to inhale more smoke particles. Exercise indoors until air quality improves.

  Watch for symptoms: Seek medical attention if you experience severe shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion, or worsening respiratory symptoms.

  Don't rely on smell alone: Smoke particles can remain at unhealthy levels even when you cannot smell smoke.

  Continue checking the AQI: Air quality can change throughout the day, so monitor conditions regularly before spending time outdoors.

Encore

If you want to monitor your Air Quality Index here are some ways.

Website	Link
AirNow (U.S. EPA)	https://www.airnow.gov
AirNow Fire & Smoke Map	https://fire.airnow.gov
PurpleAir Real-Time Air Quality Map	https://map.purpleair.com
IQAir Air Quality Map	https://www.iqair.com/air-quality-map
NOAA Fire Weather & Smoke Information	https://www.weather.gov/fire
NASA Worldview (Smoke & Satellite Imagery)	https://worldview.earthdata.nasa.gov
California Air Resources Board (CARB)	https://ww2.arb.ca.gov
South Coast Air Quality Management District (Southern California)	https://www.aqmd.gov

 

Also check your weather apps for AQI information.  

References

Burke, M., Heft-Neal, S., Li, J., Driscoll, A., Baylis, P., Stigler, M., ... & Gould, C. F. (2022).

Exposures and behavioural responses to wildfire smoke. Nature human behaviour, 6(10),

1351-1361.

Dominelli, P. B., & Sheel, A. W. (2024). The pulmonary physiology of exercise. Advances in Physiology Education, 48(2). https://doi.org/10.1152/advan.00067.2023

Horn, S. A., & Dasgupta, P. K. (2024). The Air Quality Index (AQI) in historical and analytical

perspective a tutorial review. Talanta, 267, 125260.

Islam, S. (2025). Enhancing indoor environmental air quality through smoke ventilation in

buildings. American Journal of Civil Engineering and Constructions, 1(1), 1-15.

Jin, T., Di, Q., Réquia, W. J., Yazdi, M. D., Castro, E., Ma, T., ... & Schwartz, J. (2022).

Associations between long-term air pollution exposure and the incidence of

cardiovascular diseases among American older adults. Environment international, 170,

107594.

Rice, M. B., Sokas, R. K., Coefield, S., & Volckens, J. (2023). Medical Guidance for Respiratory

Protection: Who Should Wear What, Where, and When?. Annals of the American

Thoracic Society, 20(2), 196-199.

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024a). Children’s environmental health. In Environmental Public Health Tracking. https://www.cdc.gov/environmental-health-tracking/php/data-research/childrens-health.html

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024b). How wildfire smoke affects your body. In Wildfires. https://www.cdc.gov/wildfires/risk-factors/index.html

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2014). Air cleaners and air filters in the home. In US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/air-cleaners-and-air-filters-home

US Environmental Protection Agency. (2016). Patient exposure and the air quality index. In www.epa.gov. https://www.epa.gov/ozone-pollution-and-your-patients-health/patient-exposure-and-air-quality-index

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). Health and environmental effects of particulate matter (PM). In US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/pm-pollution/health-and-environmental-effects-particulate-matter-pm

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2025a, May 7). Frequent questions about wildland fire smoke for individuals | US EPA. US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/wildfires/frequent-questions-about-wildland-fire-smoke-individuals

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2025b). Wildland fire research: What’s in Smoke? . In US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/air-research/wildland-fire-research-whats-smoke

Velev, K. (2025). Wildfires and climate change. In NASA Science. https://science.nasa.gov/earth/explore/wildfires-and-climate-change/

Wagner, J., Macher, J. M., Chen, W., & Kumagai, K. (2022). Comparative mask protection

against inhaling wildfire smoke, allergenic bioaerosols, and infectious particles.

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Zhang, M. H. (2023). Pregnant workers and the climate crisis. Tenn. L. Rev., 91, 431.