Not medical advice. If you have heart or lung disease, asthma, or are pregnant, follow your doctor's smoke-day plan. If you're sick and need care, the Ready.gov guidance is to contact your health care provider. In an emergency, call 911.
What it's for
Smoke days don't always come with an evacuation order. The EPA says the most effective way to protect yourself is to limit your time outdoors when there's smoke in the air. The Ramrod sets the smoke-day plan: watch the numbers, close up one good room, and keep the outfit busy indoors.
Before you need it (practice)
- Bookmark AirNow's Fire and Smoke Map (and get the app). The EPA points to it, your state air-quality site, or local news for current conditions.
- Learn the AQI colors (AirNow):
| AQI | Color | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 0-50 | Green | Good |
| 51-100 | Yellow | Moderate; some unusually sensitive people may be affected |
| 101-150 | Orange | Unhealthy for sensitive groups |
| 151-200 | Red | Unhealthy; some of the general public may feel effects |
| 201-300 | Purple | Very unhealthy; health alert for everyone |
| 301+ | Maroon | Hazardous; emergency conditions |
- Pick your cleaner-air room (EPA): big enough for the whole household. The EPA says a bedroom with an attached bathroom is a good choice.
- Get the air cleaner ready before smoke season. The EPA says you'll need to buy or build one ahead of time. See Building a Box-Fan Air Cleaner.
- Check your HVAC filter. The EPA says ask an HVAC tech or your system's maker whether a MERV 13 or higher filter will work with your system.
Step by step
When the smoke rolls in (EPA, Ready.gov)
- Close windows and doors in the cleaner-air room, but don't do anything that makes it hard to get out in an emergency (EPA).
- Run the air cleaner continuously on its highest setting (EPA, for portable units).
- Central air? Use a high-efficiency filter, run the system fan as often as you can, and if it has a fresh-air intake, set it to recirculate and close the outdoor intake (Ready.gov, EPA).
- Stay cool. Run fans or air conditioning (EPA).
- Skip indoor smoke makers (EPA): smoking or vaping, candles, aerosols, and vacuuming (unless it has a HEPA filter). Avoid cooking on the stove or in the oven, especially at high heat or for a long time. Wipe dust with a damp cloth or mop.
- Spend as much time as you can in that room (EPA). Cards and board games help (see Sleep and Morale).
If you have to go out
- Keep it short and easy. The EPA says reducing physical activity lowers smoke exposure.
- Wear a fitted N95 or P100 if you'll be outside for long in smoky air or ash (EPA). See Respirators and Mask Fit.
When the air clears
The EPA says when air quality improves, even for a while, air out the room to freshen it.
If smoke gets bad or a fire gets close
- Ready.gov: if you're not ordered to evacuate but it's smoky, stay inside somewhere safe or go to a community building where smoke levels are lower.
- Evacuate immediately if told to (Ready.gov). See Wildfire Go-Plan.
Common mistakes
- Opening windows to cool off during heavy smoke. Use fans or A/C in the closed room.
- Burning candles for ambiance during a smoke day (EPA says skip them).
- A fresh-air HVAC setting left on. Switch to recirculate.
- Waiting to buy filters until the stores are out.
- Relying on a bandana outdoors. It doesn't filter smoke (CDC).
Care & storage
- Keep two or three spare MERV 13 filters (EPA: keep extras on hand) for the air cleaner and the furnace size you use.
- Check the N95 stock and the air cleaner each spring.
- Keep a battery or crank radio for news if the power goes out.
Related gear
- Smoke-day air cleaner · N95 masks · Half-face respirator with P100 filters
- Crank/solar radio · Deck of cards · Drinking water
- Category: Air & Smoke · Role: Ramrod
Sources
- AirNow (EPA), "AQI Basics": https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/
- AirNow, Fire and Smoke Map: https://fire.airnow.gov/
- EPA, "How to Create a Cleaner Air Room at Home" (room choice, closing up, cooling, filtering, indoor sources, airing out): https://www.epa.gov/wildfires/how-create-cleaner-air-room-home
- EPA, "Protect Yourself From Wildfire Smoke and Ash" (limit time outdoors, reduce activity, respirators): https://www.epa.gov/wildfires/protect-yourself-wildfire-smoke-and-ash
- EPA, "Research on DIY Air Cleaners" (keep extra filters): https://www.epa.gov/air-research/research-diy-air-cleaners-reduce-wildfire-smoke-indoors
- Ready.gov, "Wildfires" (recirculate mode, community buildings, evacuate when told): https://www.ready.gov/wildfires
- CDC NIOSH, wildfire smoke bulletin (bandanas don't filter smoke): https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/bulletin/2025/wildfire-smoke.html
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