As smokey the bear has taught us all--wildfires are serious business. Just look at the recent series of Northern California wildfires that devastated the area and claimed 79 lives while leaving 1,300 individuals missing and many families now homeless in the town of Paradise. As a direct result of these fires, Northern California now has the worst air quality in the world topping major metropolitan areas known for outrageous air pollution like Los Angeles and Beijing.

Why is Wildfire Smoke Harmful?

If you play with fire, you get burned; that’s pretty common knowledge. But what other effects can wildfires create on the environment? Wildfires release large quantities of toxic smoke into the air which contains small particles from burning trees and plants, as well as materials from buildings in the affected area which can release dangerous industrial gases. Breathing in the smoke is particularly bad for your respiratory system as it is unable to filter out these particles and hazardous materials.

Exposure to wildfire smoke can cause the following symptoms: chest pain, wheezing, asthma attacks (in those who suffer from asthma), headache, sore throat, runny nose, and lethargy. Breathing in wildfire smoke is especially harmful to children, the elderly, and those who already suffer from respiratory illnesses. Ongoing exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to serious complications further down the road including but not limited to lung cancer.

Unfortunately, smoke likes to travel. While the town of Paradise is now completely devastated, all of that toxic smoke that was released during the fire doesn’t just disappear. Instead, it disperses itself throughout the air. This means that anyone in California or any of its surrounding states can be affected by wildfires hundreds of miles away. If your windows or doors are open (as they usually are during at least some point of the day), the smoke can also get into your house and contaminate your household air quality.

How Can I Protect My Home from Wildfire Smoke?

If you are in the unfortunate situation of being within range of a wildfire, it’s important that you take several steps in order to make sure that the air in your home is devoid of dangerous smoke pollutants. If you are unsure of whether or not your home has been affected, you can take a simple swab using a paper towel of one of your windows. Brown dust is generally normal household dust buildup, while darker colored dust indicates a more serious issue that will require you to take action.

First, try to keep your indoor air as clean as possible by not burning candles or lighting incense, avoid using the fireplace if you have one, avoid using gas stoves, and--while it may sound counter-intuitive--using your vacuum as it can actually keep dangerous particles afloat in the air Similarly, avoid using fans or anything that can stir up particulate matter.

Second, make sure you install a high quality air purifier that can remove wildfire smoke particles. This is a vital step in protecting the respiratory health of you and your family members. A home that is contaminated with smoke will not clean itself on its own. The toxic gases and particulate matter must be removed from the air, and the best mechanism for this is using an air purifier. In the event of heavy smoke contamination, you may want to install several air purifiers throughout your home--especially in the rooms of your young children, elderly family members, and those suffering from pre-existing respiratory problems. Also keep in mind that smoke is most drawn to cold areas of your home, so these are also prime locations for placing air purifiers.

If you are near the sight of a wildfire and household contamination is particularly bad, it might be necessary to wear masks that utilize a filtering respirator. These masks are different than normal dust masks, and will be able to catch the smaller particulate matter that would otherwise end up in the lungs of you or your family members.

You will want to wash and change all linens frequently including clothes, towels, bed sheets, rugs, and drapes (not using a vacuum, as mentioned above) as they can hold onto the wildfire smoke much like the way cigarette smoke gets trapped in fabrics and can be difficult to get rid of.

If you feel as though you are unsure about how to properly decontaminate your household, you can also hire a professional who is specialized in smoke cleaning. Sometimes letting a professional take care of serious issues such as smoke contamination is the best route for putting your mind at ease when facing such serious risk factors.

Lastly, make sure to keep your household electronic devices turned off. The soot from the wildfire smoke can get into the crevices of your devices and cause them to malfunction, which is just another inconvenience atop potential health hazards.

Dealing with wildfire smoke is no doubt an arduous chore, but tackling the issue sooner rather than later by following this simple guide is our best recommendation when faced with the threat of household smoke contamination.