How to keep the air inside your home clean during wildfires

Key Points:

• Wildfire smoke contains tiny particles that pose significant health risks, causing symptoms like shortness of breath, chest tightness, and eye irritation, and can linger over cities for days, affecting millions.
• Health experts recommend staying indoors with air conditioning systems set to recirculate air, using high-efficiency filters (MERV 13 or higher), and running fans continuously during smoke events to keep indoor air clean.
• Portable HEPA air filters or DIY box fan filters made with furnace filters rated MERV 13 or higher are effective and affordable options to reduce indoor pollution; creating a "clean room" with one filter is advised if resources are limited.
• Window and portable air conditioners often lack adequate filtration; pairing them with air purifiers or DIY filters and sealing gaps around windows can help minimize smoke infiltration, while avoiding burning anything indoors is crucial during high smoke levels.
• Individuals experiencing severe respiratory symptoms such as wheezing or difficulty breathing should seek emergency medical care immediately, while mild symptoms signal the need to move indoors and reduce exposure.