Protect Yourself From Wildfire Smoke

When wildfires create smoky conditions, there are things you can do, indoors and out, to reduce your exposure to smoke. Reducing exposure is important for everyone’s health — especially children, older adults, and people with heart or lung disease.  Smoke is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles produced when wood and other organic matter burn. These particles can cause burning eyes, runny nose, coughing, a scratchy throat, irritated sinuses and headaches.

Protect Yourself

To maintain indoor air quality during wildfire smoke events, residents should consider the following recommendations:

• When smoke is heavy, avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. 
• Remain indoors. 
• Do not vacuum as it can stir up particles already inside your home.
• Do not smoke as it increases a person’s total exposure to particulate matter in the air.
• Keeps windows and doors closed, temperature permitting. 
• Keep your indoor air as clean as possible. 
• Avoid using gas stoves or candles indoors. 
• Dust masks are ineffective against smoke. 
• If you have asthma, lung or heart disease and your symptoms worsen, call your doctor.

Air Quality Information

Current air quality information can be found on the AirNow website. Click here to see the current air quality data from our closest air monitoring station in Grand Teton National Park.