When wildfire smoke affects your area, check current local air-quality information and follow local health and emergency instructions first. Reduce children’s time outdoors when air is poor; at home, close off smoke entry and use filtration that fits the space and equipment; and ask the school how it will manage indoor air and outdoor activities. These steps can lower exposure, but no room, filter, sensor, or mask eliminates risk.
Start with local air-quality and safety instructions
Wildfire smoke can change quickly, and conditions may differ across nearby communities. Check AirNow or the relevant state, local, or Tribal air-quality source for current conditions, then follow local public-health and emergency guidance. Do not rely on a reading copied from an earlier day or on a single sensor inside the home to decide whether outdoor air is safe.
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When smoke is affecting your area, reduce children’s outdoor exposure. EPA’s child-protection guidance says children should stay and play indoors during smoky times. Check local instructions for school schedules, outdoor activities, evacuation, or other protective actions; a school or community may have building-specific circumstances that change what is practical.
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Air-quality information is a changing snapshot, not a promise that conditions will stay the same through the day. Recheck local updates when smoke shifts or conditions change, and use local instructions for decisions about travel, school, or emergency action. A household PM2.5 sensor can show indoor trends, but it should not override official outdoor guidance.
Make a home plan before smoke arrives
Identify a room where the household can spend time with the doors and windows closed, and decide how you will keep it comfortable and ventilated safely when outdoor air improves. EPA’s How to Create a Cleaner Air Room at Home guidance emphasizes that the room should be large enough for the people using it, remain safely escapable in an emergency, and stay cool. A room that becomes too hot or blocks a needed exit is not a safe solution.
- Know how to set your central HVAC or forced-air system to recirculate indoor air and how to close its outdoor-air intake, if the system has that control.
- Check the filter type and size your system accepts. Ask the manufacturer or an HVAC professional whether a higher-efficiency filter is compatible before installing it.
- Choose where a portable air cleaner could run without obstructing a doorway or creating a trip hazard, and check that it is suitable for the room’s size.
- Plan how to reduce indoor sources of particles while windows are shut, and how to air out the home when outdoor air improves.
- Consider how to keep the room cool. If the home cannot remain safely cool with windows closed, EPA advises seeking shelter elsewhere.
Think through how the room will work for everyone who may need it, not just where the air cleaner will sit. The space needs to fit the household comfortably and allow people to get out safely if there is an emergency. Keep the cleaner positioned so it does not interfere with an exit or create a hazard, and follow the equipment’s operating instructions.
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Explain the plan to children in calm, age-appropriate terms: during smoky conditions, the family may stay inside, keep windows closed, and use a cleaner-air room. If a child has a condition such as asthma, coordinate individual health planning with the child’s clinician and the school rather than assuming a general smoke plan covers medical needs.
During smoke, limit outdoor air entering the home
Close openings and adjust the HVAC system
- Close windows and exterior doors while outdoor air is smoky. Keep them closed as much as practical, while ensuring people can exit safely in an emergency.
- Set the HVAC system to recirculate if that option is available. Close the fresh-air intake when the system allows it and the manufacturer’s instructions support doing so.
- Run filtration as directed. For central forced-air systems, EPA recommends using a MERV 13 filter, or the highest-efficiency filter the system can accommodate. Confirm compatibility first: a filter that is too restrictive for a particular system may not be appropriate. Follow the system or filter manufacturer’s directions for operation and replacement.
- Keep indoor temperature safe. Closing windows can make a home uncomfortable or too hot, especially in warm weather. If you cannot keep the home cool with windows closed, seek another shelter rather than treating the cleaner-air room as safe regardless of temperature.
Buildings differ in their HVAC controls, filter dimensions, and ability to recirculate air. Do not assume that a setting or filter suitable for one home will work in another. If you are unsure whether a filter or operating mode is compatible, ask the equipment manufacturer or a qualified HVAC professional.
MERV 13 is not a universal instruction to buy any filter carrying that rating. EPA’s advice is to use MERV 13, or the highest level the specific system can handle. Check the filter dimensions as well as the system’s requirements, and verify that the equipment can accommodate the filter before installation. A higher rating does not remove the need to run and maintain the system as directed.
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Choose filtration that matches the room or system
EPA guidance describes three practical approaches: a portable room air cleaner, filtration through a central HVAC system, or a do-it-yourself box-fan-and-filter cleaner. They serve different situations; none makes exposure disappear. For portable units, match capacity to the room where the family spends time and choose equipment that produces little or no ozone. For central systems, compatibility matters as much as the filter’s rating. EPA identifies DIY box-fan filtration as an option and points users to current assembly and safety instructions rather than improvising a setup.
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| Option | Where it fits | What to check | Limits and cost information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable air cleaner | A room where the household spends time, including a designated cleaner-air room. | Choose a unit powerful enough for the room and with little or no ozone output. Follow its operating and filter-care directions. | EPA does not provide a universal purchase price, replacement-filter cost, or product-performance ranking; those depend on the specific product. |
| Central HVAC or forced-air filter | Homes with a compatible central system that can circulate air through a filter. | Use MERV 13 or the highest-efficiency filter the system can handle. Confirm the filter dimensions and system compatibility with the manufacturer or an HVAC professional; use recirculation and intake controls when available. | There is no single compatible filter size or universal cost. A MERV rating alone does not establish that a filter will work in every system. |
| DIY box-fan-and-filter cleaner | A possible alternative when following EPA’s current assembly and safety instructions. | Use the instructions for setup and safe operation; do not substitute improvised assembly advice for them. | EPA’s guidance identifies this option but does not establish a universal cost, filter replacement schedule, or product-performance ranking. |
When comparing options, consider whether the cleaner is sized for the room, how it handles ozone, whether a central system can safely use the chosen filter, and whether the equipment can be kept running and maintained as directed. Filter replacement needs and costs depend on the particular device and its instructions; there is no general price or product ranking that applies to every household. For DIY filtration, follow EPA’s current assembly and safety directions rather than relying on an improvised design.
Operating a suitable filter consistently in the room people use is more useful than selecting equipment without considering room size, system compatibility, or whether it can be kept running as directed. No consumer air cleaner or filter should be described as removing all smoke risk.
An indoor fine-particle (PM2.5) sensor is optional. It may help a household observe trends or see whether an action changes readings indoors, but it is not a substitute for official outdoor air-quality information and should not be treated as a regulatory-grade measurement. Use it as one indicator, not as permission to ignore local instructions.
Keep indoor particle sources low
When smoke is outside and the home is closed up, activities inside can add particles to the air. EPA recommends avoiding or reducing common indoor sources during smoke events:
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- Avoid candles and incense, aerosol products, and other avoidable sources of airborne particles.
- Reduce high-heat or long-duration cooking when possible.
- Avoid vacuuming unless the vacuum has a HEPA filter.
- Use damp wiping or mopping to collect settled dust rather than stirring it back into the air.
These changes do not replace filtration or local guidance; they reduce avoidable indoor pollution while the household is limiting smoke entry. They are practical adjustments for smoky periods, not a reason to stop normal household safety practices or delay following emergency instructions.
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Ventilate again when outdoor air improves
Keeping the home closed during smoky conditions is not a reason to leave it sealed indefinitely. Monitor current local air-quality information. When outdoor air improves and local guidance allows, air out the home to bring in fresher air. The timing depends on local conditions; do not use a fixed schedule that ignores changing smoke or emergency instructions.
Continue to preserve safe exits while using a cleaner-air room. Do not seal a room in a way that traps people or prevents emergency egress. If closing windows makes the home too hot to stay in safely, move to a safer place rather than trading heat risk for smoke reduction.
Ask the school how it will prepare and respond
Schools vary in their buildings, HVAC equipment, staffing, and local conditions, so there is no single smoke threshold or facility response that applies everywhere. A useful conversation is about the school’s written, building-specific smoke-readiness plan and the decisions it will make when outdoor air is poor. EPA’s school resources address facilities managers, administrators, teachers, and parents; its school-building guidance describes best practices published in May 2025 and references ASHRAE Guideline 44.
Caregivers can ask school administrators or facilities staff:
- Is there a written smoke-readiness plan? Who makes decisions, how are families informed, and how does the school adapt its response to conditions at that building?
- How does the school monitor air quality? Does it check current AQI or other relevant local information before outdoor activities?
- How does the building limit smoke entry? What steps can staff take with doors, windows, outdoor-air intake, and other ventilation controls?
- How are HVAC maintenance and filtration handled? Does the school maintain its equipment and use filtration suitable for its systems?
- What is the decision process for outdoor activity and ventilation? How does the school weigh current outdoor conditions, the building’s ventilation needs, and local health instructions?
- Is there a cleaner-air room or space? Where is it, who can use it, and how does the school keep it suitable and safe for students?
- How are indoor particle sources reduced? What practices can staff adjust during a smoke event?
- How are children with asthma or other health needs supported? How should a caregiver share an individual plan or coordinate with the school nurse and the child’s clinician?
These questions are meant to clarify the school’s actual capabilities, not to assume it has a particular filter, control, or dedicated clean-air room. The school’s plan should account for its own building and procedures, including how staff make decisions about ventilation and outdoor activity as conditions change. Ask how families will receive updates so a plan can be understood before an event and followed during one.
EPA’s April 15, 2025 webinar, Managing Indoor Air Quality Before and During Wildfire Smoke Events: Smoke-Ready Schools, discusses ventilation, filtration, asthma impacts, and emergency preparedness. These resources can help frame a discussion, but they do not establish that every school has the same equipment, space, or shutdown threshold. Ask what the school can do in its own building and how it will communicate decisions to families.
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Do not rely on a mask as a child’s smoke plan
EPA’s child-specific guidance says paint, dust, cloth, surgical, and even N95 masks are not made to fit children, and advises not relying on masks to protect children from wildfire smoke. EPA’s separate respirator guidance says children aged two and older can wear respirators, while noting that NIOSH-approved respirators are not available in sizes suitable for young children. Fit, comfort, vision, correct wear, and monitoring all matter.
Those points are not a basis for telling every child to wear a particular respirator. Lead with reducing exposure: use local air-quality guidance, limit outdoor time during smoke, and improve indoor air where feasible. For a child’s individual medical situation, ask the child’s clinician and follow local public-health advice.
Use current official guidance for changing conditions
The current edition of Wildfire Smoke: A Guide for Public Health Officials was published in June 2026 as EPA-452/B-26-001. EPA identifies it as an interagency collaboration involving EPA, CDC, the U.S. Forest Service, California Air Resources Board, California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units. It is a U.S. federal guidance resource; local air quality, building capabilities, climate, and the combination of smoke and heat vary.
For practical household steps, consult EPA’s Protect Children from Wildfires, Smoke, and Volcanic Ash, How to Create a Cleaner Air Room at Home, and the June 2026 Reduce Smoke Exposure fact sheet. For school planning, see EPA’s Wildfires and Indoor Air Quality in Schools and Commercial Buildings guidance and its Smoke-Ready Schools webinar. Use their current instructions for details such as DIY cleaner assembly and safety; do not rely on a generic description in place of the applicable guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do first when wildfire smoke reaches my area?
Check AirNow or your state, local, or Tribal air-quality source, then follow local health and emergency instructions. Conditions can change quickly, so recheck updates rather than relying on an earlier reading.
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Should children stay indoors when it is smoky outside?
EPA’s child-protection guidance says children should stay and play indoors during smoky times. Reduce outdoor exposure and follow local guidance about school schedules, activities, or other protective actions.
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Can I use a MERV 13 filter in my home HVAC system?
Only if the system can accommodate it. EPA recommends MERV 13 or the highest-efficiency filter the system can handle. Confirm dimensions and compatibility with the manufacturer or an HVAC professional before installing a higher-efficiency filter.
Are N95 masks a reliable way to protect children from wildfire smoke?
EPA advises not relying on masks to protect children from wildfire smoke. NIOSH-approved respirators are not sized for young children, and fit, comfort, vision, and correct use matter. Focus on reducing exposure and ask a clinician or local public-health authority about an individual child’s situation.
What should I ask my child’s school about wildfire smoke?
Ask whether it has a written smoke-readiness plan, checks current air quality before outdoor activities, maintains HVAC and filtration, can reduce smoke entry, identifies a cleaner-air space, and communicates decisions to families. Plans and capabilities vary by building.
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There is no universal price: costs and replacement needs depend on the particular cleaner, filter, and HVAC system. Compare room coverage, ozone output, system compatibility, and maintenance instructions rather than assuming one product or MERV rating suits every home.
The Bottom Line
For children, start with current local air-quality and emergency guidance, reduce outdoor exposure during smoky periods, and use a safe, comfortable cleaner-air space at home when feasible. Confirm that filters fit the room or HVAC system, keep indoor particle sources low, and ask the school how its building-specific plan handles air quality and outdoor activities. These steps reduce exposure; they do not eliminate risk.
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