Breathing wildfire smoke can harm everyoneās lungs, heart, and overall health. And this year weāre already seeing hotter weather (including the hottest June 8 in the Seattle area since 1948) and statewide drought conditionsāmeaning a higher chance of more smoky days.
Three steps can help you and your loved ones stay safe when wildfire smoke is in the air.
1. Check the Air Quality Index, or AQI, to see how smoky it is outside. Check current conditions and forecasts atĀ AirNow.gov, or scroll down on your weather app.
2. Avoid outdoor exercise and move indoors when itās smoky out.Ā If youāre at higher risk from smoke, move indoors if the AQI is 100 or higher. This includes people who are age 18 and under, over age 65, have heart or lung conditions like asthma, and who are pregnant. When the AQI is 150 or higher, everyone should move indoors. If you need to be outside, anĀ N95 maskĀ can help to protect most people from smoke.
3. Make a clean room in your house with a HEPA filter. Close windows, curtains, and blinds and run AC or a fan to stay cool. If you are overheating indoors on a smoky day, move to a public place with air conditioning, like a library, community center, or shopping mall.
What is the health risk from wildfire smoke?
Wildfire smoke is unhealthy for everyone, especially after heavy exercise or spending long periods of time outside. In Washington State,Ā researchers have foundĀ that more people need to visit an Emergency Department for heart and lung issues after smoky days.
Asthma and other respiratory visits go up immediately after wildfire smoke exposure, and cardiovascular visits rise a day or more after someone was exposed. Children and young to middle-aged adults (ages 19-64) who exercise outdoors are at high risk of these emergency visitsāa reminder that exercising outdoors on a smoky day can be dangerous for everyone.
Smoke from forest fires contains tiny particles and other chemicals that can irritate your eyes, nose, throat and lungs and cause widespread inflammation. It can also trigger asthma attacks and worsen existing lung, heart, or circulatory conditions.
Communities of color, people with underlying illness or disability, and low-income communities in King County are at higher risk from health problems caused by wildfire smoke and climate change, because of historical and ongoing health inequity and a lack of access to care.
Outdoor workers may also be at higher risk of smoke exposure and resulting health issues. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries updated rules related to smoke exposure in May 2024. Visit theĀ WA L&I websiteĀ to learn more, and ask your workplace about plans and resources to meet the updated rules.
How to prepare for wildfire smoke this year
The most important way to stay safe is to spend time indoors when it is smoky outside. Close windows and doors, set up a clean air room using aĀ HEPA filter, and run air conditioning if possible. If you have an HVAC system, use filters with a high rating (MERV 13 or higher) and set the system to recirculate. If it gets too hot indoors, move to a mall, library, or other air-conditioned building.
Portable HEPA air cleaners designed for one room are available online starting around $50. Replace filters when they become noticeably darker, which will happen more quickly on smoky days.
To help keep indoor air clean, avoid burning candles or incense, frying or broiling food, using gas stoves, vacuuming, or spraying aerosol products.
Do masks protect from wildfire smoke?
If you canāt avoid spending time outside when it is smoky, well-fitting N95 masks offer good protection from wildfire smoke for most peopleāsee this PDF for more information. Because wood smoke particles are so tiny, KN95 masks may not offer the same level of protection as an N95, while cloth masks donāt provide much protection from wildfire smoke.
Because N95 masks can block air flow and make it harder to breathe, they can worsen some pre-existing health conditions if worn for too long. Talk to your healthcare provider and remember that moving indoors is the safest option.
Help our community stay safe
Help family, friends, and neighbors who may be at risk plan for wildfire smoke this season, and check in on them on smoky days. CheckĀ kcrha.org/news/Ā for a list of cooling shelters on extremely hot and smoky days that are open to everyone. You can also search for “cooling shelters” atĀ WA211.org.
Receive alerts about hazards in King County by signing up forĀ Alert King CountyĀ andĀ Alert Seattle. Both services are free, available in several languages, and you can choose to get notifications by text, email, or phone.
We can take steps together as a community toward local adaptation and resiliency. This includes health education, increased access to health care, and maintaining and increasing the tree canopy across our county ā especially in hotter urban areas like Rainier Valley. We must also work on the larger factors that are changing our climate, and do our part to rapidly reduce fossil fuel use while transitioning to renewable energy.
For more information
- Visit ourĀ Wildfire Smoke PreparednessĀ page for print resources (including a one-page flyer inĀ English,Ā Spanish, and additional languages), information, and tips in multiple languages.
- The EPA hasĀ detailed instructionsĀ about making a clean air room, available in multiple languages.
- CheckĀ AirNow.govĀ daily for the latest air quality reports and forecasts.
- Find guidance for school and child care activities and other resources from theĀ Washington State Department of Health.
- Visit ourĀ Hot Weather Preparedness page for information about staying safe in the heat.
In-language videos about wildfire smoke preparedness
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This column re-posted with permission form Public HealthāSeattle and King County’s Public Health Insider. For public health updates and other useful health information, check out blog.
