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Check AirNow or your state, local, or Tribal air-quality source, then follow local health and emergency instructions. When outdoor air is smoky, reduce children’s time outside and keep indoor air as clean as practical. At home, that usually means closing windows and doors, using compatible filtration, and limiting indoor pollution. At school, ask how the building monitors air quality and manages ventilation, filters, and outdoor activities. None of these steps eliminates exposure risk; the right plan depends on local conditions, the building, and the child’s health.
Why wildfire smoke needs special attention for children
Wildfire smoke contains fine particles and other pollutants that can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat and affect breathing. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) explains that children are especially vulnerable because their lungs are still developing: “Children’s lungs are still growing and developing so they are especially vulnerable to wildfire smoke and ash.” Children may also breathe more air relative to their body size than adults and spend more time being physically active, which can increase their exposure when they are outdoors.
Possible symptoms include coughing, wheezing, trouble breathing, chest tightness, eye, nose, or throat irritation, and dizziness. Children with asthma, allergies, or other chronic health conditions may be affected more strongly. A child who develops symptoms should be moved away from smoky air, and caregivers should follow the child’s care plan and seek medical advice as appropriate. Severe or worsening breathing problems warrant urgent medical attention. Local public-health guidance and the child’s clinician are the right sources for individual medical decisions.
EPA’s child-protection guidance and the June 2026 interagency edition of Wildfire Smoke: A Guide for Public Health Officials provide U.S.-focused guidance. Air quality, climate, school equipment, and emergency directions vary by location, so use current local information rather than relying on a fixed reading or a one-size-fits-all school threshold.
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Start with current local air quality and instructions
Wildfire smoke can move and change quickly. Check AirNow or the relevant state, local, or Tribal air-quality source when smoke is present, and check again as conditions change. Follow local health department and emergency-management instructions, including evacuation or shelter directions. Official air-quality information should guide decisions; an indoor particle sensor, if you use one, can show trends in your home but is not a substitute for official readings.
When conditions are poor, EPA advises keeping children indoors and reducing outdoor exposure. That applies to play, sports, recess, physical education, and time spent waiting outside. Ask the school how it uses current AQI information and local guidance to make those decisions. Do not assume that every school follows the same numeric cutoff or has the same HVAC capabilities.
It can help to make checking air quality part of the household’s routine during a smoke event: look at the current local information before children leave for school or activities, and check again if smoke or weather changes. A single reading is not a promise about what conditions will be later. If local authorities issue directions that differ from a general indoor-air plan, follow the local instructions.
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Know how your heating and cooling system handles outside air
If your home has central forced-air heating or cooling, find out how to use recirculation and whether the system has a fresh-air intake that can be closed during smoky conditions. The controls vary by system. Check the equipment instructions or ask the manufacturer or an HVAC professional before changing settings. Close fresh-air intakes only when the system provides that control and it is appropriate for your equipment.
Check the filter type and size your system requires, and confirm that a higher-efficiency filter is compatible before installing it. EPA recommends MERV 13, or the highest-efficiency filter the system can accommodate. A filter that is too restrictive for a particular system can interfere with airflow; do not install MERV 13 or higher without checking compatibility. Ask the manufacturer or a qualified HVAC professional if you are unsure. Follow the equipment and filter instructions for installation and replacement.
Before smoke arrives, locate the filter compartment and note the correct filter dimensions so you are not guessing during an event. Filter ratings alone do not establish that a filter will work in every system: verify both the rating and the equipment’s requirements. If you rent, ask the property manager or building operator who is responsible for HVAC settings and filter changes.
Choose possible cleaner-air spaces
Identify a room where household members can spend time together during a smoke event. It should be large enough to use comfortably, able to stay cool with windows and doors closed, and equipped with suitable filtration if available. Think ahead about sleeping arrangements, children’s needs, and how the room will be used if smoke lasts for hours rather than minutes.
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Do not seal a room in a way that blocks a safe exit. A cleaner-air space still needs to be safely escapable in an emergency, and emergency instructions always take priority over keeping doors closed. If the home cannot stay at a safe, comfortable temperature while windows are closed, EPA advises seeking shelter elsewhere rather than allowing the home to become dangerously hot.
Consider the household’s practical needs when choosing the space: whether everyone can fit, whether children can rest or do quiet activities there, and whether filtration equipment can run as directed. A cleaner-air room is a way to reduce exposure, not a guarantee that smoke cannot enter. Decide in advance where you could go if the room becomes too hot or local officials advise leaving.
Gather equipment and check that it works
- Check your central HVAC filter and confirm its size and compatible efficiency rating.
- If using a portable air cleaner, verify that it is intended for the room size and produces little or no ozone.
- Learn the controls for recirculation, fan operation, and any available fresh-air intake before you need them.
- Consider whether a room has enough space and outlets for the household and its filtration equipment.
- Know where you could go if your home cannot remain cool or if local authorities direct you to leave.
For a portable cleaner, compare the room coverage information on the product with the room where you plan to use it, rather than assuming any unit will serve the whole home. Also check how the manufacturer says to operate and maintain it, including when filters need attention. There is no universal cost or replacement schedule that applies to every model; those details are product-specific. A small indoor PM2.5 sensor is optional: it may help you observe trends or whether a change appears to affect indoor readings, but it is not a regulatory-grade substitute for official outdoor air-quality information.
What to do at home during smoky conditions
Limit smoke entering the home
- Check current conditions and directions. Consult AirNow or your local air-quality source and follow health and emergency instructions.
- Close windows and exterior doors. Keep them closed while outdoor air is smoky, while preserving a safe way to exit if needed.
- Set the HVAC system appropriately. Use recirculation and close a fresh-air intake only if your system has that control. Use the filter and fan as recommended for your equipment and the applicable EPA guidance.
- Use a cleaner-air room. Spend time in the selected room with its filtration running, while keeping it cool and safely escapable.
- Reduce indoor particle sources. Avoid smoking or vaping, candles and incense, aerosol sprays, high-heat or prolonged cooking, and vacuuming unless the vacuum has a HEPA filter. Damp-wipe or mop settled dust instead.
- Reassess as conditions change. Check local air quality and instructions periodically; when outdoor air improves, air out the home.
Closing windows is not an instruction to tolerate unsafe indoor heat. If the home cannot stay cool with windows closed, seek a cooler, cleaner-air location. Do not wait for filtration to make a hot or otherwise unsafe room acceptable.
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Choose a filtration approach that fits the home
Filtration options work in different ways. A room air cleaner treats air in the space where it is used; a central HVAC filter treats air moving through the system; a do-it-yourself (DIY) box-fan/filter cleaner is another option identified by EPA. None should be presented as a guarantee of clean air or zero exposure.
| Option | Where it helps | What to verify | Practical limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable room air cleaner | A room where the family spends time, such as a cleaner-air room | That the unit is powerful enough for the room and produces little or no ozone | It treats the room where it operates; keeping it running and maintaining its filter matter. |
| Central HVAC filter | Air circulated through compatible central forced-air equipment | Filter dimensions and whether the system can accommodate MERV 13 or the highest compatible efficiency | A more restrictive filter may not suit every system. Confirm compatibility before installation. |
| DIY box-fan/filter cleaner | A possible additional room-filtration option | Use EPA’s current assembly and safety instructions | Do not improvise construction or assume every fan/filter combination is safe or effective. |
The EPA guidance supports matching room cleaners to room size, choosing little- or no-ozone equipment, and verifying HVAC compatibility. It does not establish a universal product ranking, cost comparison, or filter-replacement schedule. Those depend on the particular equipment, room, and manufacturer instructions. A sensor may help you observe whether indoor particle levels trend up or down as you change something, but it does not replace official outdoor air-quality information.
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When comparing options, think about where the household spends time, the area the equipment can serve, whether it can be run consistently, and what maintenance it requires. A portable unit is targeted to its room; central filtration depends on compatible forced-air equipment; and a DIY option requires following EPA’s current assembly and safety directions. Compare purchase price and replacement-filter costs using the specific products you are considering rather than relying on a general price estimate. No product has been tested or ranked here.
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Smoke can enter from outdoors, but activities inside can add particles while the home is closed up. During a smoke event, avoid smoking or vaping indoors, burning candles or incense, using aerosol sprays, and cooking at high heat or for a long time when possible. Avoid vacuuming unless the vacuum has a HEPA filter. Damp-wiping surfaces or mopping can remove settled dust without stirring as much of it back into the air.
These steps reduce additional indoor sources; they do not remove smoke that has already entered or guarantee a particular indoor particle level. Keep filtration operating as its instructions direct, and consider the whole household’s comfort and safety while limiting unnecessary activity that can worsen indoor air.
Air out the home when outdoor air improves
Keeping windows closed is a response to smoky outdoor air, not a permanent setting. When local air quality improves, ventilate the home by opening windows or otherwise bringing in outdoor air as appropriate for your system and conditions. Continue to monitor local information because smoke can return or shift. If heat, safety, or emergency instructions conflict with keeping windows closed, prioritize safety and follow local directions.
What caregivers can ask a school to prepare
Schools differ in building design, equipment, staffing, and local conditions. EPA’s school guidance recommends planning for building-specific needs rather than assuming one approach works everywhere. Caregivers can ask the principal, facilities manager, or school nurse how the school prepares for smoke, and what it will communicate to families.
- Written plan: Does the school have a written smoke-readiness plan, and who makes decisions when outdoor air is smoky?
- Air-quality monitoring: Which current AQI source does the school use, how often does it check, and how are changes communicated?
- Outdoor activities: What process determines whether recess, sports, physical education, or other outdoor activities are modified, moved indoors, or canceled?
- HVAC and filtration: Is HVAC equipment maintained, and what high-efficiency filtration can the building’s systems support?
- Smoke entry and ventilation: How can the building reduce smoke entering, and how does staff decide when to adjust ventilation?
- Indoor sources: Does the plan address avoidable indoor particle sources during a smoke event?
- Cleaner-air space: Can the school identify a suitable cleaner-air room or space for children who need it?
- Children with health needs: How should families share relevant asthma or other health plans, and whom should they contact about an individual child?
- Family communication: How will the school notify caregivers about activity changes, school operations, or a change in the smoke plan?
Useful follow-up questions can make the plan clearer without assuming the school owns particular equipment: who checks conditions, who has authority to change activities or building operation, and how families will learn about decisions. Ask whether the plan addresses both limiting smoke entry and maintaining appropriate ventilation, since a building’s options depend on its design and systems. If your child has asthma or another condition, ask whom to contact to coordinate the child’s existing care plan with school procedures.
EPA’s school resources are intended for facilities managers, administrators, teachers, and parents. Its school-building page describes a Best Practices Guide published in May 2025 and references ASHRAE Guideline 44. An EPA webinar recorded April 15, 2025, and updated May 18, 2026, discusses ventilation, filtration, asthma impacts, and emergency preparedness. These resources support asking about a plan; they do not establish that every school has the same equipment or must close at a single AQI value.
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Why masks are not a dependable general solution for children
EPA’s child-specific guidance says not to rely on masks to protect children from wildfire smoke. It says paint, dust, cloth, surgical, and even N95 masks are not made to fit children. EPA’s separate respirator guidance adds nuance: children aged two and older can wear respirators, but NIOSH-approved respirators are not available in sizes suitable for young children, and fit and proper use are essential. Comfort, vision, correct wear, and monitoring also matter.
These statements are not a basis for telling all children to wear a particular respirator. Prioritize reducing exposure and improving indoor air, and ask a clinician and local public-health authorities about an individual child’s circumstances. Follow local instructions, including any that apply to evacuation or other emergency response.
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Respond to symptoms and changing conditions
Watch for coughing, wheezing, trouble breathing, chest tightness, irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat, or dizziness. If symptoms occur, reduce the child’s exposure by moving indoors to a cleaner-air setting when safe and checking local guidance. Follow any existing asthma or other clinician-provided action plan. Contact the child’s healthcare provider for questions about symptoms or individual risk; seek urgent help for severe or worsening breathing difficulty.
Keep checking current local air-quality information rather than treating a single reading as a forecast. The smoke event may change, and official instructions may be updated. If authorities direct evacuation or another emergency action, follow those directions even if it means leaving a cleaner-air room or home.
Sources and scope
This guide reflects U.S. EPA guidance on protecting children, creating a cleaner-air room at home, reducing smoke exposure, protecting yourself from wildfire smoke and ash, and wildfire smoke in schools and commercial buildings. The June 2026 edition of Wildfire Smoke: A Guide for Public Health Officials is identified by EPA as an interagency collaboration involving EPA, CDC, the U.S. Forest Service, the California Air Resources Board, California OEHHA, AVMA, and Western States Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Units; its report number is EPA-452/B-26-001. Recommendations should be applied alongside current local air-quality and emergency instructions, equipment guidance, and advice from a child’s clinician.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I check whether wildfire smoke is affecting my area?
Check AirNow or your state, local, or Tribal air-quality source, and follow local health and emergency instructions. Recheck as conditions change; an indoor particle sensor can show trends but does not replace official outdoor readings.
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Should children stay indoors when the air is smoky?
EPA advises children to stay and play indoors during smoky times and to reduce outdoor exposure. Follow current local guidance for activities such as recess, sports, and physical education.
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Can I put a MERV 13 filter in my home HVAC system?
Only if the system can accommodate it. EPA recommends MERV 13 or the highest-efficiency filter the system can handle. Confirm compatibility and dimensions with the equipment manufacturer or an HVAC professional before installing a higher-efficiency filter.
Do N95 masks reliably protect children from wildfire smoke?
EPA advises caregivers not to rely on masks to protect children from wildfire smoke. Fit and proper use are essential, and NIOSH-approved respirators are not sized for young children. Focus on reducing exposure and improving indoor air, and ask a clinician or local public-health authority about an individual child.
What if my home gets too hot with the windows closed?
Do not tolerate unsafe indoor heat to keep smoke out. EPA advises seeking shelter elsewhere if the home cannot stay cool with windows closed. Follow local emergency directions.
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No. A sensor is optional and may help you observe indoor particle trends or assess changes, but it is not a substitute for official outdoor air-quality information.
What should I ask my child’s school about wildfire smoke?
Ask whether it has a written smoke-readiness plan, which AQI source it uses, who decides about outdoor activities and ventilation, what filtration the building can support, whether it has a cleaner-air space, and how it communicates decisions to families.
The Bottom Line
Check current local air quality and follow local instructions. During smoky conditions, reduce children’s outdoor exposure, keep indoor air as clean as practical, and use only filtration compatible with the room or HVAC system. Ask the school how its building-specific smoke plan handles air quality, ventilation, filtration, and outdoor activities. Keep safety first: filtration does not eliminate risk, masks are not a dependable general solution for children, and a home that cannot stay cool may not be a safe place to shelter.
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