Wildfire Smoke

Smoke and ash from wildfires contain very small particles that can harm the lungs and heart. The particles can cause coughing, wheezing, breathing difficulty, chest pain, nausea and, in severe instances, premature death. Children, older adults, pregnant women and people with heart or respiratory conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema are especially sensitive to air pollutants.

Below are steps you can take to protect yourself and others from wildfire smoke. Much of it can be done in advance to prepare such as downloading an air quality app, signing up for notifications, obtaining an air purifier and sealing doors and windows.

Farmworker Wildfire Smoke Alert System

Visit the webpage for information on this first-of-its-kind program.

Keep tabs on air quality

Stay informed so that you can take steps to reduce your smoke exposure.

Real-time data: Check the AirNow NowCast Air Quality Index (AQI) at airnow.gov or fire.airnow.gov. You can also download the AirNow app and sign up for notifications.

Air Quality Alerts are issued by the district when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is forecast to reach the Unhealthy (for all) level or if the AirNow NowCast AQI has reached Unhealthy (for all). Alerts are shared in the following ways:

Air Quality Watches are issued if the forecast is high for Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or if a wildfire has the potential to produce significant amounts of smoke for a long time. The district shares Watches in the following ways:

  • District E-News — Sign up to receive Air Quality Alerts and other information.
  • Air Quality Forecast and Agricultural Burn Status reports  — Sign up for the daily emails or view it online.
  • Social media — Follow our Facebook, Nextdoor or X accounts.

Ventura County Farmworker Wildfire Smoke Text Alerts are issued each day when the AQI reaches Unhealthy (for all) or Hazardous levels. Sign up by texting "SMOKE" for English or "HUMO" for Spanish, Mixteco and Zapoteco messages to 855-522-0034.

 

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Create a clean-air room

Consider creating a clean-air room in your home, especially if children, older adults, pregnant women or people with heart or lung disease live there.

  1. Choose a room that is big enough for everyone in your home to be comfortable in for a long period of time and does not have an exterior door that will be in use. A bedroom with an attached bathroom is a good choice.
  2. Prevent smoke from entering. Close windows and doors and ensure the room is sealed tightly, but don't do anything that will make it difficult to get out.
  3. Keep it cool. Run fans, window air conditioners or central air conditioning. If your HVAC system or window air conditioner has a fresh air option, turn it off or close the intake and run it in recirculation mode. Close blinds and curtains.
  4. Filter the air with a purifier. There are purchased or do-it-yourself options:
    • Purchase a portable High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) purifier, which can reduce particulate matter indoors by 90%, that is the right size for your room. A HEPA purifier for an average-sized bedroom cost about $75.
      • For information on selecting a safe and effective purifier, visit the California Air Resources Board (CARB) website.
      • Run it continuously on the highest fan setting.
      • Replace the filter as directed in the owner's manual and more frequently if used during a wildfire.
    • Assembling a DIY purifier can be more affordable, with materials costing about $40, if commercially available portable air cleaners are not an option.
      • Use a 2012 or newer 20-by-20-inch box fan with an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or ETL (Intertek) logo for adequate safety features.
      • Use tape to attach a 20-by-20-inch filter with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 13 or higher — like what you would use for an HVAC system — to the back of the fan. Attaching to the back of the fan creates a better seal.
      • Align the direction of the filter’s air flow, which is marked on its side, with the fan.
      • As needed, disassemble the fan to wipe away dirt.
      • Change the filter when it appears dirty or starts to release smoke odors. During smoke events, filters may need to be changed every few weeks or days.
      • Use the device modified in this way only as an air cleaner, not as a fan to cool your home.
  5. Avoid activities that create smoke or other particles such as smoking, vaping, burning candles or incense, using aerosols, using a wood-burning fireplace and frying or broiling food. Use the range hood while cooking, but only for short periods of time because range hoods and exhaust fans can bring more smoke inside from elsewhere in the home. Only use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Use a damp cloth or mop to trap settled dust particles.
  6. Avoid exercising to help reduce exposure to any particles that may enter the clean-air room.
  7. Spend as much time as possible in the clean room.
  8. When air quality improves, even temporarily, air out the clean room by opening windows or the fresh-air intake on your HVAC system and run the exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathrooms.

 

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Smoke-proof your home

  • Weatherize your home by sealing leaky windows and doors. Consider hiring a professional to conduct a blower door test to detect air leaks.
  • Upgrade the filter in your HVAC system to one rated MERV 13 or higher if it is compatible.
  • Check and replace the filter regularly. During periods of heavy smoke, replace the filter more often than recommended by the manufacturer. If filters appear heavily soiled when replaced, consider changing them more frequently.
  • Run the HVAC system's fan as often as possible by setting the fan to "on" instead of "auto" to get the most out of the filter.
  • During a smoke event, avoid activities that create smoke or other particles such as smoking, vaping, burning candles or incense, using aerosols, using a wood-burning fireplace and frying or broiling food. Only use a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Use a damp cloth or mop to trap settled dust particles.
  • Use your range hood while cooking, especially when using a gas stove.

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Seek other shelter if needed

If too much smoke is getting in your clean-air room or home, you can’t stay cool or the power goes out, consider staying with friends or family, going to a public cleaner-air shelter, or seeking relief in another location with air conditioning and good air filtration. Large commercial buildings like shopping malls can be good options.

With funding from the district, the Ray D. Prueter Library in Port Hueneme will become the county's first Clean Air Center. When work is completed, information on the hours and location will be added to the CARB Clean Air Centers Map.

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Mask When Outdoors

If you must be outdoors, particularly if you are physically exerting yourself, wear a NIOSH-approved mask, such as N95. It must be worn correctly to prevent particles from entering your lungs. Surgical masks, bandanas and cloth masks are not a good protection against wildfire smoke. Further protect your health by by drinking water, seeking shade and taking rest periods.

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More Information

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