Air Quality From Wildfires Is Getting Worse: What You Can Do To Stay Safe

Updated June 28: This article was originally published on June 8.

The Midwest is suffering from some of the poorest air quality in the world, even worse than what was seen along the Eastern Seaboard just weeks ago. Cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit are now experiencing dangerously poor air quality, with Air Quality Index figures as high as 250, as Canadian wildfires continue to blaze on. Residents in much of Canada are under high alert, as the country is continuing to experience its worst wildfire season in recorded history.

Residents in much of the middle of the U.S. are being asked to stay indoors, run the air conditioner and wear an N95 mask when going outdoors. The poor air quality is, in large part, due to particulate matter, known as PM2.5, released from smoke, fire and other sources of pollution such as power plants, cars and trucks. Not only are those with chronic lung issues now at risk, but because the current levels of unhealthy air are so high, even healthy individuals are at risk for developing injury to the air passages.

Storms later this week might ease some of the fumes, but it’s important to remember that even when the visible smoke clears, AQI levels will likely remain high in many regions of the U.S. for several weeks ahead.

For those of us who live on the West Coast, images of orange skies and feeling the ever-so-slight or not-so-slight burn in our throats when we take a deep breath, have become commonplace.

Wildfire season in states such as California, Washington and Oregon seems to extend to nearly year-round. Many homes have well-stocked fire evacuation kits, and many have used those kits, filled with changes of clothes, food, water, extra medicines, radios, flashlights and more. Many times.

Countless homes, towns and lives have been lost to wildfires, the numbers of which increase with each season. When the Covid-19 pandemic first hit, many homes in the West already had an ample supply of N95 or P100 masks, to be used in times of fires. These were the masks we saw in the spring of 2020, with a one-way flap. Not Covid-safe, but safe in case of fire or smoke.

Other parts of the country are now feeling the heat, as well.

Wildfires in Eastern Canada have led to dangerously smoky air in the United States, extending as far south as Florida and as far west as Texas. These fires, many of which originated in Quebec, have been burning for days or weeks, but a storm out of Nova Scotia has pushed the haze south. East coasters are well-versed in hurricane preparedness, but we on the West Coast have had our share of fiery air and invisible but poor air quality, and know what we can all do to stay safe.

People throughout the U.S. are now learning about AQI, or Air Quality Index. This denotes the degree of particles, usually invisible, in the air, scaled from 0 to 500. This number is usually available on a standard smartphone weather app and normally runs in the 20 to 40 range in most suburban and even urban areas.

During fire season, we often see AQI over 100, and once it hits 150, schools close, outdoor athletic events cancel and people are advised to stay inside. This week, the AQI in many East Coast cities has risen to over 300.

When the air looks orange, smoky or hazy, it’s pretty obvious that the quality is pretty poor. The risks actually become higher when the air starts to look clear, deceptively giving the idea that it’s fine to go back to normal. But even when things look clear, it’s important to check your local AQI. If it’s not on your weather app, the site airnow.gov is a great resource for local AQI, health recommendations and predicted trends in which way the wind will blow.

As I wrote for Forbes back in 2019, those with chronic lung conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or emphysema are at high risk for developing worsening symptoms when exposed to poor air quality. Infants and young children are at higher risk for developing breathing problems such as croup and bronchitis.

Besides staying inside and keeping windows shut, there are a few things to do in the coming days or weeks for those experiencing poor air quality from fires to stay safe:

• This might be the time to break out that N95 mask you used for Covid-19 protection.
• If a family member uses inhalers or breathing treatments, stock up. Asthma flares tend to kick up during fire season.
• Check in on family, friends and neighbors, especially the elderly or those with young children. See if they need medicine or food items delivered so they don’t need to leave the house unnecessarily.
• Use an air purifier if you have one.
• This is the week to move your outdoor workout indoors.
• Don’t hesitate to call for help, either by calling your primary care physician for mild breathing issues or 911 for anything more severe.

Unfortunately, just as wildfire season out West is nearly a 12-month season, it’s likely that fire and smoke might be a recurring event for other parts of the country in years to come.