How to protect yourself from fire smoke

As wildfires continue to rage through the Los Angeles area, it should be obvious that the flames themselves pose great threats, leaving destruction in their wake. So is the intense heat generated. But remember, where there’s fire there’s smoke, which may be a reversal of the typical saying, but it’s very relevant here. Fires create large amounts of smoke that are major threats in their own right. And those huge plumes of smoke from the wildfires will remain huge problems for a while and could end up traveling huge distances from the flames.

Fire smoke contains particulate matter

This is because fire smoke can have all kinds of harmful things in it. Any type of smoke contains particulates, which is a more cultured way of saying bits of stuff that are suspended in the air. These particles can range from clearly visible pieces of trash floating in the air to smaller and smaller particles.

Now particulate matter is clearly a situation where size matters, as the smaller the particles the more likely they are to get into your respiratory tract and potentially into your lungs. Of particular concern are “respirable fine particles” or PM2.5 which are particles 2.5 micrometers or smaller. These particles are definitely not “good” for your health because they are tiny enough to get into the smaller airways of your lungs to cause irritation and damage. This can put a strain not only on your lungs but also on your cardiovascular system. That’s why inhaling such particles can not only cause breathing problems, trigger asthma attacks, or worsen existing lung problems, but can also increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes, especially in those with other risk factors for such medical problems. .

The other more than minor problem with these fine inhaled particles is that they can be too small to be seen. So what appears to be clean air may actually be filled with PM2.5 materials. So don’t just rely on your eyes to determine how clean the air really is.

Speaking of eyes, particles can also get into your eyes, leading to significant irritation. So if you find your eyes burning and watering, there’s a decent chance that the air around you is polluted with particles.

Fire smoke may contain toxic gases

The other dangerous components of wildfire smoke are the various toxic gases resulting from burning plants, other organic material, rubber, and who knows what else may be present in the Los Angeles area. Of course, the closer you are to the flames, the greater the concentration of such gases. Even if the flames are long gone, charred debris can still emit toxic fumes and spew particles into the air.

The health effects of toxic fumes depend on the specific types of chemicals in those fumes. However, the potential impact can range from skin, eye or respiratory tract irritation to cancer.

Stay indoors with fire smoke outside

If you’re around the Los Angeles area right now, it’s best to stay indoors as much as possible and limit your time outside. Again, don’t trust your eyes to determine how clean the air may be. Keep your windows and doors closed. Seal any other openings that may allow fire smoke to enter your living quarters, or consider using thick damp cloths to block such openings.

Of course, you don’t want to stay inside your house if it’s on fire. So staying indoors doesn’t mean staying oblivious to what’s going on outside. Track where the fires and smoke are traveling via the news or web monitoring and applications. Also, pay attention to what’s happening just outside where you live.

Air purifiers with HEPA filters can protect against wildfire smoke

If possible, use air purifiers that have a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter to keep the indoor air around you clean. In theory, such filters are supposed to remove at least 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns (μm) in size from the air. This includes dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and, yes, fine particles. Pay attention to the HEPA filter’s Minimum Efficiency Reference Value (MERV) rating, which represents the filter’s ability to capture particles between 0.3 and 10 microns (μm) in size. The higher the MERV rating, the better the filter traps particles of that size. Also, clean and replace the filter regularly. As Maroon 5 sang, nothing lasts forever.

Avoid vigorous physical activity while outdoors with wildfire smoke

This is not the time to start marathon training outside. More vigorous physical activity will increase your breathing rate and therefore the amount of stuff in the air you inhale. This doesn’t mean you should stop exercising completely, because exercise is good for you. Just try to do it indoors in places that have clean filtered air.

N95 or P100 face masks can protect you from fire smoke

Unfortunately, some politicians have politicized face masks as I have written before Forbes. But the bottom line is that face masks like N95 and P100 respirators are specifically designed to filter very small particles from the air so you don’t inhale them. In other words, such face masks work.

Now, this doesn’t mean that any face mask will work. A bandana, surgical mask or Deadpool mask won’t do much. When it comes to choosing the right face mask, it’s important to know not only your alphabet but also your numbers. First look for the letter that tells you the category of the respirator:

• “N” stands for “Non-Oil” meaning the respirator is not oil resistant.
• “R” stands for “Resistant to Oil” for 8 hours
• “P” means the respirator is oil resistant

Unless you plan to season your face mask with olive oil or something, you probably don’t need to choose a P or R face mask over an N. That means you won’t be in an area with a lot of oily fumes.

So if you have one of those lettered respirators, the next thing to check is the number right after that. The number represents the respirator’s effectiveness in filtering particles that are 0.3 microns or larger. Thus, an N95 mask can filter out 95 percent of such particles. A mask with a name ending in 99 would be 99 percent effective. A P100 respirator is not 100 effective because nothing is 100 percent in life. But such a mask comes close to 99.97 percent efficiency.

Now, it is not enough to just see N95 or P100 on the face mask or packaging. There are many face masks that are falsely advertised as such. Look for masks that have been tested and approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The face mask and packaging should bear the word “NIOSH” along with the word “N95” or “P100”. If it says something else like “NASH,” “KIBOSH,” or “KNISH,” don’t trust the N95 or P100 rating. A Knish mask could be something completely different.

Face masks with NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 ratings are made of interlocking polypropylene fibers that make it physically difficult for small particles to get through. Additionally, these fibers are imbued with electrostatic charges that will cause such particles to stick to the fibers.

You also need to wear the N95 or P100 respirator properly for it to really protect you. Forming a tight seal around your mouth and nose is key. The respirator should have two straps that go around your head and keep your mask tight on your face. Conversely, masks that have ear loops will not form tight enough seals. Also, don’t wear face masks like you would a pair of Hailey Bieber pants or skinny jeans. It needs to be the right size to fit over your nose and under your chin without bunching up in any way so that the edges lift off your face.

Try to replace N95 or P100 face masks frequently. They lose effectiveness with use and time for three reasons. One reason is the loss of electrostatic charge. Another is that bending and deforming the face mask can split the fiber meshes. A third reason is that dirt and oil can spoil the face mask, especially if it is not oil resistant. And regardless of what you may think of yourself, you are a very oily person. Just touching the face mask with your hands will leave oil on the mask.

Check air quality reports every day to monitor wildfire smoke

Finally, remember what happened to the smoke created by the fires in Central Canada in 2023. They spread all the way to the northeastern US, as I reported on Forbes at that time. Yes, fire smoke can and will travel. And such smoke can linger for a while. The resulting path and distance depends on how much smoke is produced and what the winds and weather ultimately do.

So no matter where you live in the US, it’s a good idea to keep monitoring the air quality indicators around you. Again, while there will always be smoke with fire, in the case of forest fire smoke, there can be smoke without the fire.