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Outdoor smoke contains very small particles and gases, including carbon monoxide. These particles can get into your eyes and lungs where they can cause health problems. Main sources of outdoor smoke in Washington:

  • Wildfires
  • Wood stoves, pellet stoves, and fireplaces
  • Agricultural burning
  • Prescribed fires (used to manage forests)

1- What health problems can smoke cause?

  • Eye, nose, and throat irritation (burning eyes and runny nose)
  • Wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, and headache
  • Aggravation of existing lung, heart and circulatory conditions, including asthma and angina

2- Who is especially sensitive to smoke?

Inhaling smoke is not good for anyone, even healthy people. People most likely to have health problems from breathing smoke include:

  • People with lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), including bronchitis and emphysema.
  • People with respiratory infections, such as pneumonia, acute bronchitis, bronchiolitis, colds, or flu.
  • People with existing heart or circulatory problems, such as dysrhythmias, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and angina.
  • People with a prior history of heart attack or stroke.
  • Infants and children under 18 because their lungs and airways are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults.
  • Older adults (over age 65) because they are more likely to have unrecognized heart or lung diseases.
  • Pregnant women because both the mother and fetus are at increased risk of health effects.
  • People who smoke because they are more likely to already have lower lung function and lung diseases.
  • People with diabetes because they are more likely to have an undiagnosed cardiovascular disease.

For more information, visit the DOH Smoke From Fires Toolkits.

3- How can I tell if smoke is affecting the air quality in my community?

4- How can I tell if smoke is affecting my family?

  • Smoke can cause coughing, scratchy throat, irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, stinging eyes, and runny nose.
  • If you have heart or lung disease, smoke might make your symptoms worse.
  • People who have heart disease might experience chest pain, a rapid or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, and fatigue.
  • If you have a pre-existing respiratory condition such as asthma, COPD (including chronic bronchitis and emphysema), or allergies, smoke may worsen symptoms (inability to breathe normally, cough with or without mucus, chest discomfort, wheezing, and shortness of breath).
  • When smoke levels are high, even healthy people can have symptoms or health problems.

Contact your health care provider if you have heart or lung problems when around smoke. Dial 911 for emergency assistance if symptoms are serious.

5- What can I do to protect myself and my family from outdoor smoke?

  • Check local air quality reports and listen to news or health warnings for your community.
  • Avoid physical exertion outdoors if smoke is in the air.
  • If you have asthma or other lung diseases, make sure you follow your doctor's directions about taking your medicines and follow your asthma management plan. Call your health care provider if your symptoms worsen.
  • Stay indoors and keep indoor air as clean as possible. Take the following steps when indoors: 
    • Keep windows and doors closed. Track the air quality and open your windows for fresh air when the air quality improves. Pay attention to the heat indoors and follow guidance in the section below if it's too hot.  
    • Run an air conditioner, set it to re-circulate and close the fresh-air intake. Make sure to change the filter regularly.
    • Use an air cleaner with a  high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to reduce indoor air pollution. A HEPA filter will reduce the number of irritating fine particles in indoor air. A HEPA filter with charcoal will help remove some of the gases from the smoke. Do not use an air cleaner that produces ozone. For more information:
    • Don’t add to indoor pollution. Don’t use food boilers, candles, incense, fireplaces, or gas stoves. Don’t vacuum unless your vacuum has a HEPA filter, because vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home. Don’t smoke, because smoking puts even more pollution into the air.
    • Consider leaving the area if the air quality is poor and it's not possible to keep indoor air clean, especially if you or those you are caring for are having health problems or are in a sensitive group. See section above titled, who is especially sensitive to smoke. 

For more information about keeping indoor air free of smoke Improving Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality during Wildfire Smoke Events (PDF).

6- What if I don’t have air conditioning and it’s hot indoors?

Even when the air quality is poor, it’s always important to pay attention to the heat and stay hydrated—overheating is dangerous. If it’s too hot indoors to keep your windows and doors closed, first consider leaving the area or going to an indoor place with air conditioning, like a friend or relative’s home. If it’s hot indoors during poor air quality, these steps can reduce the heat:

  • Close curtains or shades during the day when it’s sunny
  • Use portable fans indoors. Try placing a bowl of ice in front (and windows closed) to help keep the heat down.
  • Track the air quality and open your windows when the air is clean

7- Should I use a face mask when there is outdoor smoke?

If you cannot leave the smoky area or find other ways to reduce your exposure, certain types of face masks can provide some protection. Respirator masks labeled N95 or N100 filter out fine particles but not hazardous gases (such as carbon monoxide). These masks can be found at many hardware and home repair stores and pharmacies. Face masks will not work for everyone.

Watch this video on how to use a face mask.

 

8- Can I use an air filter in my home to improve indoor air quality?

Portable air cleaners with HEPA filters can improve indoor air quality by removing particulates from smoke. HEPA air cleaners with charcoal filters can also remove some harmful gases from indoor air. Consider using air cleaners in the room where you spend most of your time, which is often a bedroom.

Do not use ozone generators, personal air purifiers, or electrostatic precipitators and ionizers that produce ozone. Ozone is a respiratory irritant that can aggravate asthma and other lung diseases. For information on devices certified to avoid ozone exposure, consult the California Air Resources Board Consumers’ Air Cleaner Portal.

For more information, Air Cleaner Information for Consumers - California Air Resources Board.

9- Should I exercise when it’s smoky?

Exercise is very important for health. When you exercise your air intake is increased, which means inhaling more pollution when the air quality is bad.

If you are sensitive to smoke, you should limit your activities when air quality is in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category. People with asthma and lung and heart conditions may be very sensitive to poor air quality and may start to have symptoms when air quality is in the Moderate category and they should consider reducing indoor and outdoor activities.

10- What should I do if I have to drive when it's smoky?

Avoid driving, when possible. If you must drive, keep the windows closed. Use the air conditioner. Most vehicles can re-circulate the inside air which will help keep particle levels lower, however carbon dioxide levels can build up and cause sleepiness. You may have to open the vents periodically. Maintain your car intake filters.

11- What can schools do to protect students during smoky conditions?

12- Smoke From Fires Information in Other Languages

Department of Ecology Resources

Additional Resources

Mobile Phone Apps
  • EPA's Smoke Sense". Get current and location-specific information about smoke, learn about health impacts, and participate in a citizen science project.
  • EPA's "AirNow". Get current and location-specific information about air pollution (PM2.5 and ozone).