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For a U.S. location affected by wildfire smoke, start with the EPA and U.S. Forest Service AirNow Fire and Smoke Map. Search your town, allow location access, or pan the map; then select the nearest PM2.5 marker to see current AQI, recommended actions, the day’s readings and trend, and any available Smoke Outlook. The same smoke map is available from the smoke icon in the AirNow app.
Turn on AirNow forecast push notifications for saved places, subscribe to AirNow email notifications, and sign up with your state, local, or Tribal air-quality agency for local alerts. Smoke can move and intensify quickly, so use the map and alerts together rather than relying on one reading or one check.
Use the Fire and Smoke Map first
The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map is designed specifically for wildfire smoke. It emphasizes fine particle pollution (PM2.5), the pollutant that usually drives smoke-related health risk, and combines air-quality readings with fire locations, satellite-detected smoke, protective guidance and, where available, smoke forecasts. EPA says the map includes more than 1,700 state, local and Tribal regulatory-network monitors, plus temporary monitors and PM2.5 sensors to improve coverage (EPA smoke-report guidance).
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That large network improves the chance of finding a useful nearby reading, but it does not mean every neighborhood has a monitor. Treat a marker as a measurement at its own location, not a guarantee about every street around it. If the nearest marker is far away, use the marker’s monitor type, location, timestamp and trend alongside the map’s smoke and forecast layers and your local agency’s advice.
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The regular AirNow interactive map is useful for broad air-quality information, but its headline AQI can represent whichever of five pollutants is highest: particle pollution, ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide or sulfur dioxide. It displays permanent monitors reporting to AirNow. The smoke map adds temporary monitors and crowdsourced sensors, so readings and coverage may differ between the two products (AirNow wildfire guidance).
For wildfire smoke, this distinction matters: the general map’s AQI is not necessarily a smoke-specific PM2.5 value. A difference between maps may simply reflect the pollutant being reported or the monitors included. The Fire and Smoke Map’s additional markers can provide useful coverage during a fire, but a sensor reading is not interchangeable with a permanent regulatory monitor. Compare like with like where possible, and pay attention to whether the marker is a permanent monitor, a temporary monitor or a sensor.
How to check your location step by step
- Open the map. Go to fire.airnow.gov, or open the AirNow app and choose its smoke-map view.
- Set the location. Use the site’s location control, search for a place name, or manually pan and zoom to your neighborhood. If you deny browser location permission, the search and map controls still work.
- Choose a nearby marker. Marker size and symbols identify permanent regulatory monitors, temporary monitors and sensors. Select the marker closest to where people will spend time; a reading several miles away may reflect different elevation, wind or smoke conditions.
- Read the detail panel. Check the current PM2.5-based AQI, the recommended protective action, the same-day history and the trend label—stable, improving or worsening. If a Smoke Outlook has been issued for the area, the panel links to it (AirNow map instructions).
- Inspect the wider picture. Turn on fire, smoke-plume and forecast layers. A plume shows where smoke is detected or expected, while a monitor reading tells you what a specific location is measuring now; neither alone predicts every block’s conditions.
Use the panel as a short sequence: identify what the marker is, note its current value and history, read the protective action, and then check whether an outlook is available. The history helps distinguish a one-time value from a change over the day. A worsening trend deserves attention even if the current category has not yet changed; an improving trend is useful context, but it does not erase an unhealthy reading.
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Understand the AQI colors
EPA’s U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI) translates pollutant concentrations into six color-coded bands. On the Fire and Smoke Map, the relevant value is generally PM2.5, while a general AQI page may be driven by another pollutant (AirNow AQI explanation; EPA wildland-fire smoke information).
| AQI | Category | What the category means for decisions |
|---|---|---|
| 0–50 | Good | Air quality poses little risk under normal conditions. |
| 51–100 | Moderate | Air is generally acceptable, but unusually sensitive people may notice effects. |
| 101–150 | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | People with heart or lung disease, children, older adults and other sensitive people should reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion and watch symptoms. |
| 151–200 | Unhealthy | More people may experience effects; sensitive groups should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors, and everyone should consider reducing exposure. |
| 201–300 | Very Unhealthy | Health warnings affect everyone; avoid strenuous outdoor activity and follow the map’s protective advice. |
| 301+ | Hazardous | Emergency-level conditions; stay indoors in cleaner air and follow instructions from public-health and emergency officials. |
The category is a communication tool, not a guarantee that every person at every address experiences identical exposure. Wind shifts, indoor filtration, building leakage and time outdoors can make personal exposure higher or lower than a displayed monitor value.
Read the category together with the marker’s specific recommended action rather than treating the number as a personal medical assessment. The map focuses on PM2.5 for smoke decisions; the general AirNow AQI may reflect a different pollutant. If the two appear inconsistent, confirm which pollutant and marker each is showing before drawing a conclusion.
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Why two maps or monitors can show different numbers
Differences do not automatically mean one source is wrong. Use the following comparison points before acting on a surprising result.
| Comparison point | What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Pollutant | Smoke map PM2.5 versus a general AQI driven by ozone or another pollutant | A general AQI may look acceptable while smoke-specific PM2.5 is elevated, or vice versa. |
| Data source | Permanent regulatory monitor, temporary monitor or sensor | Instruments differ in placement, quality-control process and reporting schedule. The smoke map labels marker types. |
| Location and coverage | Distance from your home, elevation, valley or ridge, and nearby fire or plume | Smoke can vary sharply over short distances and between neighborhoods. |
| Recency and trend | Timestamp, same-day history and stable/improving/worsening label | A reading that is improving may still be unhealthy; a low value can rise rapidly when winds change. |
| Forecast or outlook | Whether a Smoke Outlook or plume forecast exists | An outlook adds expected conditions beyond the instantaneous measurement, but it is not available for every incident. |
| Notifications | Whether the source supports app, email or local emergency alerts | Alerts can warn you when you are not actively looking at a map. |
When comparing two nearby numbers, first check whether they describe the same pollutant and roughly the same time. Then compare the marker types and locations. A permanent regulatory monitor, a temporary monitor and a sensor can each add information, but they have different roles and may not report in the same way. The map’s symbols and detail panel help identify what you are looking at; do not compare a sensor reading to a regulatory monitor as if the devices and locations were identical.
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Next, look at the trend and the broader smoke picture. A satellite-detected plume or forecast layer gives context about smoke location and movement, while a monitor reports conditions at its site. A Smoke Outlook, if one is available, adds a local forecast and protective guidance. No single layer answers every question, so combine these signals rather than choosing the most reassuring number.
Set up wildfire-smoke alerts before conditions worsen
AirNow app forecast notifications
Install the AirNow app, save the locations that matter—home, work, school or a frequently visited relative’s address—and enable forecast push notifications. Use the smoke icon to open the Fire and Smoke Map when an alert arrives. Notification availability and timing can depend on the saved location and the forecast product; an alert is a prompt to check current conditions, not a substitute for the map.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteForecast notifications and current readings serve different purposes. A notification can prompt you to prepare or check conditions, but it is not a live measurement at your exact address. When you receive one, open the smoke map, select the relevant nearby marker, and read its current value, same-day history, trend and any available Smoke Outlook.
AirNow email notifications
EPA’s wildfire-preparation guidance describes AirNow email notifications as another way to receive forecast information (EPA prepare-for-smoke guidance). Choose the locations you monitor and verify that messages are not being filtered into spam or a promotions folder.
Email can be a useful backup if you do not routinely open the app, but it should sit alongside—not replace—the local agency alerts that cover local advisories and instructions. Check that you are monitoring the places that matter, especially if you split time between locations.
State, local and Tribal alerts
Find your state, local or Tribal air-quality agency through its official website and enroll in available text, email or emergency-alert services. Local agencies may issue burn restrictions, school or event guidance, shelter information and advisories tailored to monitors that national products do not show. Keep these alerts enabled even if you already use AirNow.
Enrollment options vary by agency, so look for its official air-quality or wildfire-smoke page and follow its signup instructions. These alerts add locally issued information; AirNow is still useful for comparing current PM2.5 readings and seeing the wider smoke map. Using both reduces the chance that you miss either a local instruction or a changing map condition.
Interagency Smoke Outlooks
Some major incidents and locations receive an Interagency Smoke Outlook. When the map’s marker panel shows an outlook, read its forecast period, expected smoke movement and recommended actions. Outlooks are not published for every fire, so their absence does not mean smoke is absent.
Think of an outlook as additional planning context rather than a substitute for the current marker value. Check its time period and use it alongside the day’s monitor history and trend. If no outlook appears, continue to use the map layers and alerts that are available and check your local air-quality agency for area-specific updates.
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A practical routine during an active smoke event
- Check before leaving home. Look at the nearest PM2.5 marker and its trend, not only the color of a distant plume.
- Check again when conditions change. Recheck after a wind shift, visible haze, an odor of smoke, a fire-growth update or an agency alert. EPA notes that smoke conditions can change quickly (EPA smoke-report guidance).
- Match activity to the category. Move exercise indoors or shorten it as AQI rises, and follow the protective-action wording attached to the marker.
- Protect indoor air. Close windows and doors, run a properly sized portable air cleaner, and avoid adding indoor particles from smoking, candles, frying or other high-emission activities.
- Use a respirator for necessary outdoor exposure. A NIOSH-approved N95 can reduce inhaled smoke particles when worn correctly; it does not make prolonged exposure risk-free.
- Monitor symptoms. Coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, unusual shortness of breath, palpitations or worsening symptoms require prompt medical advice. For severe or emergency symptoms, use emergency services.
Make the check routine practical: use alerts to know when to look, then use the map to verify the current local picture before making plans. During a changing event, revisit the trend and any forecast or outlook rather than assuming a morning reading applies later in the day. If local officials issue instructions, follow those instructions even if a nearby map marker looks different.
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EPA specifically highlights people with heart or lung disease, children, older adults, pregnant women and people with greater exposure, including outdoor workers (EPA preparation guidance). A person with heart or lung disease should create an individual smoke plan with a health-care provider, including medication, activity and when-to-seek-care instructions. Do not change prescribed treatment based solely on an AQI color.
Plan transportation and indoor locations for children, older adults and anyone who cannot readily reduce outdoor exposure. Outdoor workers should discuss employer procedures, schedule changes, rest breaks and respirator fit before smoke arrives.
Preparation is especially useful before smoke is in the area: save important locations, enable alerts and decide where household members can spend time in cleaner indoor air. People who expect greater exposure, such as outdoor workers, should not wait for a high reading to find out what workplace procedures apply. For personal medical decisions or questions about an individual condition, ask a health-care provider.
Prepare a cleaner-air room
Portable air cleaner
Choose a room-sized portable air cleaner that produces little or no ozone and is rated for the room’s square footage. Run it with doors and windows closed during smoky periods, replace filters as directed, and keep airflow unobstructed. EPA recommends preparing this type of unit but does not endorse a specific model (EPA preparation guidance).
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Think of this as a way to prepare one cleaner-air room, not as a guarantee that smoke cannot enter the home. Select a unit suitable for the room and follow its instructions. No model is being recommended here; the important considerations are appropriate room sizing and little or no ozone production.
DIY box-fan filter
EPA also describes considering a DIY box fan with a high-efficiency filter. Use only a sound fan and a filter arrangement intended for that purpose, keep the assembly away from moisture and combustible materials, and never leave an improvised setup unattended if the manufacturer or fire-safety guidance warns against it. The goal is particle reduction in a closed room, not whole-house purification.
Central HVAC filtration
Ask an HVAC professional whether your system can safely use a compatible MERV-13 or higher filter and whether the filter will restrict airflow. AirNow identifies MERV-13 or higher as an option for a cleaner-air room when the system is suitable (AirNow smoke-readiness guidance). A professional can also explain how to close an outside-air intake temporarily without damaging equipment or creating unsafe combustion conditions.
Do not assume that every furnace or HVAC system can accept the same filter. The relevant question is compatibility with your equipment; get professional advice before changing filter type or closing an intake. A higher-efficiency option is useful only if the system can operate with it as intended.
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Keep NIOSH-approved N95 respirators available for essential trips outdoors and learn how to put them on, seal-check and remove them correctly. EPA says dust masks and bandanas are not substitutes for an N95 (EPA preparation guidance). Facial hair, poor fit and incorrect wearing reduce protection; children and people with breathing or heart conditions should ask a clinician about safe use.
Prepare them in advance rather than searching for a suitable respirator during a smoke event. An N95 is a measure for necessary exposure, not a reason to stay outdoors longer than needed; use the map’s protective advice and reduce exposure where practical.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use air sensors as supplemental information
A consumer PM2.5 air-quality sensor can provide near-real-time readings indoors or outdoors and help you see whether filtration changes conditions in a particular room. Treat it as supplemental measurement, not a replacement for the Fire and Smoke Map, official alerts or medical advice. Place it away from cooking, vents and direct smoke sources, allow it to stabilize, and compare its trend with the nearest official or temporary monitor. Sensor readings can be affected by humidity, placement, calibration and the device’s detection method.
A sensor is most useful for understanding conditions in the space where it is placed, while a public monitor contributes to the wider outdoor picture. Those are different jobs. Compare trends and consider the device’s location and type rather than expecting exact agreement between a consumer sensor and a nearby public marker. If the readings differ, consult the map’s monitor details and local agency guidance instead of relying on the sensor alone.
Troubleshoot common problems
The map shows no marker near me
Zoom out and inspect temporary-monitor and sensor symbols, then compare the map with your state or local agency. A sparse network means the nearest value may not represent your street. Use plume and forecast layers for context, and make decisions conservatively if smoke is visibly heavy or symptoms appear.
The map may have useful coverage beyond permanent monitors, but coverage is not uniform. Look for other marker types and an available outlook, and check local agency information for additional reporting. The absence of a nearby marker or a Smoke Outlook is not proof that the air is clear.
The regular AirNow AQI is low but the sky is smoky
Open the Fire and Smoke Map and select a PM2.5 marker. The general map may be reporting a different pollutant or may lack a nearby PM2.5 monitor. The smoke map is the appropriate first check for wildfire smoke (AirNow wildfire guidance).
The value changed suddenly
Check the timestamp, marker type and trend, then compare a second nearby marker. Rapid changes can be real when wind moves a smoke plume; they can also reflect a temporary monitor or sensor issue. Continue checking and follow the more protective official advice while the difference is investigated.
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Confirm that location services, app notifications, email delivery and saved places are enabled. Check spam filtering and your local agency’s subscription status. Alerts are not guaranteed for every location or incident, so continue using the map during active smoke.
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Also remember that an outlook or notification may not be available for every place or incident. Use more than one channel: check the AirNow map directly, keep email or app notifications enabled, and subscribe to local agency alerts when offered.
What to keep ready
- A bookmarked Fire and Smoke Map and the AirNow app with saved locations.
- AirNow email and state, local or Tribal agency alerts enabled.
- A portable air cleaner sized for one room, or a safely assembled box-fan/high-efficiency-filter option.
- A compatible MERV-13 or higher HVAC filter if your system and an HVAC professional support it.
- A supply of NIOSH-approved N95 respirators in suitable sizes.
- Prescription medicines, a clinician-approved smoke plan and contact information for medical care.
- Optional PM2.5 sensors used to understand indoor conditions, never as the sole basis for exposure decisions.
For the most reliable answer to “Is smoke coming, and what should we do?”, combine the smoke map’s current PM2.5 marker and trend with its plume or outlook layers, automatic notifications and local-agency instructions. Recheck whenever the wind, visibility or official guidance changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best place to check local wildfire smoke?
Start with the EPA and U.S. Forest Service AirNow Fire and Smoke Map at fire.airnow.gov or its smoke-map view in the AirNow app. Search for a place, use location access or pan and zoom, then select a nearby PM2.5 marker to view its AQI, protective advice, same-day history, trend and any available Smoke Outlook.
Why does the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map show a different number from the regular AirNow map?
The Fire and Smoke Map focuses on PM2.5, while the general AirNow AQI may reflect whichever of five pollutants is highest. The smoke map also includes temporary monitors and PM2.5 sensors in addition to permanent monitors, so coverage and readings can differ. Check the pollutant, marker type, location, recency and trend before comparing values.
How can I get alerts when wildfire smoke is coming?
Enable AirNow forecast push notifications for saved locations in the AirNow app, and sign up for AirNow email notifications. Also check your state, local or Tribal air-quality agency’s website for local alert subscriptions. An alert is a prompt to check current conditions; smoke changes quickly and no alert product is available for every location or incident.
Does no Smoke Outlook mean there is no smoke?
No. Interagency Smoke Outlooks are available only for some locations and incidents. If none appears, continue checking nearby PM2.5 markers, map layers, AirNow notifications and local agency updates.
Who should prepare especially carefully for wildfire smoke?
EPA highlights people with heart or lung disease, children, older adults, pregnant women and people with greater exposure, including outdoor workers. People with heart or lung disease should make a smoke plan with a health-care provider and ask their clinician about individual medical questions.
The Bottom Line
For wildfire smoke, use the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map to check local PM2.5, the monitor’s trend and protective advice; use app, email and local agency alerts to know when to check again. Compare pollutant, marker type, location and recency before trusting a surprising difference, and remember that an absent marker or Smoke Outlook does not mean smoke is absent.
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