Wildfire season and COVID-19

With summer, comes the risk of wildfire. And with wildfires, come smoke. Wildfire smoke can cause symptoms that range from the annoying — eye, nose, and throat irritation — to the dangerous — wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. Wildfire smoke is especially harmful for children, pregnant women, and people who are over 65. And if you already have a heart or lung condition like asthma or COVID-19, breathing in wildfire smoke can make it worse.

Breathing in wildfire smoke can also weaken your immune system, which might make you more likely to get COVID-19 if you get exposed to it. It may be difficult to tell the difference between a cough that is related to wildfire smoke and one due to COVID-19. Severe symptoms, like wheezing or shortness of breath, are worth a call to your health care provider, no matter what the cause. If you have a fever, achiness, or suddenly can’t smell the wildfire smoke anymore when everyone else still can, call your health care provider to ask for a COVID-19 test.

Keep smoke out of your home

Take steps now to get your home ready to keep smoke out and have better indoor air quality.

• You can do this by improving filtration and creating a clean air room in your home. If you create a homemade box fan air filter, never leave it unattended. Left alone, it is a fire hazard.
• When the air quality is poor, don’t add to indoor air pollution by burning candles or incense, or smoking inside.
• Close windows and doors when it’s smoky outside but open windows and let in fresh air when there’s better air quality outside.
• Wear your cloth face covering to slow the spread of COVID-19, but don’t think it is protecting you from the smoke. It keeps droplets from spreading, but lets dangerous microscopic smoke particles right in.
• If you live in an area where you might have to evacuate because of fire, as you prepare your emergency kits, be sure to add cloth face coverings and hand sanitizer to your bag.
• Stay informed about wildfire smoke on the Washington Smoke Information blog and your local clean air agency’s website.
• For more information to protect your health visit our Smoke from Fires webpage.

Practice compassion

It’s #SmokeReady2020 week in Washington. Are you and your neighbors prepared for wildfire season? Learn how to protect your home from wildfires, and how to make sure you don’t accidentally start one in the first place.

More information

Stay tuned to our blog for more information on how you can help stop the spread of COVID-19. Sign up to be notified whenever we post new articles.

Information in this blog changes rapidly. Check the state’s COVID-19 website for up-to-date and reliable info at coronavirus.wa.gov.

Answers to your questions or concerns about COVID-19 in Washington state may be found at our website. You can also contact our call center at
1–800–525–0127. Hours: 6 am-10 pm, seven days a week.

Department of Health call center: 1–800–525–0127, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m, seven days a week.

Please check our website for the most up-to-date info on Washington’s response to COVID-19 at www.doh.wa.gov/coronavirus.