Wildfires (for Families & Communities)

 If you live in an area that is prone to wildfires, have a wildfire response plan, including having a disaster kit (with N95 masks) so that you’re ready to leave home urgently if needed. If your child has chronic health conditions, discuss plans for wildfires with their primary care provider. Families can prepare for wildfire by knowing how to check their air quality and sign up for air quality resources. They can also protect their indoor air quality by talking with a HVAC or furnace professional about upgrading to a filter rated “MERV” 13 or higher or buy a portable air cleaner to have on hand. Sign up for emergency alerts from FEMA or your local public health department and always follow evacuation guidelines. See the additional resources section for related links.

Children who breathe in wildfire smoke can have chest pain and tightness; trouble breathing; wheezing; coughing; nose, throat, and eye burning; dizziness; or other symptoms. Children with asthma, allergies, or other chronic health conditions may have more trouble breathing when smoke or ash is present. Even children without asthma could experience respiratory symptoms, resulting in school absences and other limitations of normal childhood activities. Fires may leave large amounts of ash and dust contaminated with harmful chemicals such as asbestos, arsenic, and/or lead. Wildfire smoke can persist for days or even months, depending on the extent of the wildfire. 

Families and communities should prepare as best as possible in the event of wildfire (see “In Your Environment” above for more details). After a wildfire, adults should avoid tracking contaminated substances and ash back to areas frequented by children (e.g. homes, cars) on clothing or shoes. Remove shoes at the doorway, wash clothing separately, and change out of clothing prior to interacting with children or returning home. If your child has had contact with any potentially hazardous substance or has been playing in a fire-damaged area, wash their hands and any other exposed body part thoroughly. Flush their eyes, too. Remove any exposed clothing and wash separately as soon as possible. Children should not be at a cleanup site or clean up from a wildfire. 

School or childcare administrators can work with local health and air quality officials to understand how best to implement guidelines for school activities and other responses to a smoke event. Monitoring indoor air quality is an important way to tailor interventions to the specific situation and keep children safe. When there is smoke outdoors, the best place to be is indoors in a space with good air quality. If remaining outdoors for brief periods, consider having children wear NIOSH-certified N95 masks, especially if they are coughing or have an underlying health condition. Schools should consider establishing large clean-air rooms—such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, or auditoriums—that can also serve as clean-air shelters for community members outside of school hours. Ideally, ALL classrooms should be clean-air rooms where children are safe.