Be Smoke Ready!
Protecting your health during wildfire season
It’s Smoke Ready Week! And time to prepare for wildfire season and the smoke that comes along with it. Wildfire smoke seasons can be unpredictable. In some years, the smoke is very bad, but in other years it’s not. It’s always best to be prepared and “smoke ready” to protect ourselves and our families. Smoke ready means having the knowledge and ability to stay safe and healthy during periods of poor air quality due to smoke from fires.
What can you do now to be ready for wildfire smoke?
1. Know how to access forecast and current air quality conditions
Stay informed about air quality conditions. This will help you make decisions to protect you and your family. For information on wildfire activity and air quality conditions, visit the Washington State Smoke Blog: https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/.
2. Know what’s in smoke and why it’s bad for health
Wildfire smoke is made of many things, but the main pollutant we track to measure air quality impacts are fine particles called particulate matter (PM). PM can be inhaled deeply into your lungs and cause irritation. Due to its small particle size, PM can also enter your bloodstream.
3. Know the health effects and symptoms of exposure to smoke and who is at risk
Breathing in wildfire smoke can result in minor to serious health effects. Some of the minor symptoms include eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. More serious symptoms can include worsening of pre-existing chronic conditions like Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or asthma.
While smoke is unhealthy for everyone, there are some people who are especially sensitive to smoke. Infants and children, pregnant women, adults over 65, and people with heart and lung disease may develop more severe health problems from smoke. If you have a respiratory infection or COVID-19, smoke can make your symptoms worse since both impact your respiratory and immune systems.
4. Know how to reduce exposure to smoke and have the resources and ability to do so
The best way to protect you and your family’s health is to reduce exposure to smoke. This starts by staying inside and keeping your indoor air clean. Take the following steps when indoors:
- Close your windows and doors when it is smoky outside.
- Improve the filtration of indoor air in your home. Here are three ways: (1) upgrade your home HVAC system filtration to a MERV 13 filter (or the best your system can handle), (2) buy a HEPA portable air cleaner, or (3) build a DIY box fan filter.
✔️ There are technical details involved with all of these options, so do your research in advance. - Don’t add to indoor air pollution: avoid burning candles or incense, using essential oil diffusers, smoking inside, or vacuuming (unless your vacuum has a HEPA filter).
Remember to buy necessary materials, like MERV filters before you need them — supplies will sell quickly once the smoke hits.
For more information about wildfire smoke and health, ways to reduce exposure, and impacts of COVID-19, visit our Smoke from Fires webpage.
More information
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Check the state’s COVID-19 website for up-to-date and reliable info at coronavirus.wa.gov.
The COVID-19 vaccine is now available to everyone 12 and older. For more information about the vaccine, visit CovidVaccineWA.org and use the vaccine locator tool to find an appointment. The COVID-19 vaccine is provided at no cost to you.
Answers to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington state may be found at our website. You can also contact the Department of Health call center at 1–800–525–0127 and press # from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday — Sunday and observed state holidays. Language assistance is available.
