HelpSierraBreathe Wildfire Smoke Resources
Wildfire smoke carries fine particles (PM2.5) small enough to travel deep into the lungs. HelpSierraBreathe put together this guide so you and your neighbors can protect yourselves when the smoke arrives: how to wear an N95, how to read the air quality, how to clean the air at home, and where to find trustworthy, up-to-date information.
How to Wear an N95 Mask: A HelpSierraBreathe Guide
Cloth masks, bandanas and loose surgical masks do little to stop the fine particles in wildfire smoke. An N95 respirator filters at least 95% of airborne particles, but only when it seals to your face.
- Hold the mask in your hand with the nose piece at your fingertips and the straps hanging below.
- Place it over your nose and mouth. Pull the top strap over your head so it sits high on the back of your head, then pull the bottom strap down to the back of your neck, below your ears.
- Press the metal nose piece with the fingertips of both hands so it molds to the bridge of your nose.
- Do a seal check: cover the mask with your hands and breathe out sharply. If air leaks around the edges, adjust the straps and nose piece and check again.
- Replace the mask when it gets dirty, damaged or wet, or when it becomes harder to breathe through.
Good to know: facial hair prevents a tight seal, N95 masks are not designed to fit young children, and N95s do not protect against gases such as carbon monoxide. If you have heart or lung disease, are pregnant, or find it hard to breathe while wearing one, talk with a health care provider.
HelpSierraBreathe Guide to the Air Quality Index (AQI)
| AQI | Level | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0–50 | Good | Air quality is satisfactory. Enjoy normal activities. |
| 51–100 | Moderate | Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting long or heavy outdoor exertion. |
| 101–150 | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | Children, older adults, pregnant people and people with heart or lung conditions should cut back time outdoors and wear an N95 outside. |
| 151–200 | Unhealthy | Everyone should limit outdoor activity, wear an N95 outside and keep indoor air clean. |
| 201–300 | Very Unhealthy | Avoid outdoor activity and spend as much time as possible in a room with filtered air. |
| 301+ | Hazardous | Stay indoors with filtered air, follow local health officials and be ready to evacuate if ordered. |
Smoke can shift quickly, so check current conditions before you head outside.
Clean Indoor Air Tips from HelpSierraBreathe
- Keep windows and doors closed when smoke is heavy, and set air conditioners to recirculate.
- Run a portable HEPA air purifier in the room where you spend the most time, especially where you sleep.
- Build a low-cost DIY air cleaner by attaching a MERV 13 (or higher) furnace filter to a box fan. Four filters taped into a cube with a box fan on top, known as a Corsi-Rosenthal box, works even better. Don’t leave a DIY fan filter running unattended.
- Avoid adding indoor pollution during smoke events: skip candles, incense, frying and sweeping or vacuuming without a HEPA filter.
- If you can’t clean the air at home, look for libraries, community centers or other public buildings with filtered air.
HelpSierraBreathe’s Trusted Wildfire and Smoke Links
- AirNow Fire and Smoke Map: current air quality, smoke plumes and fire locations.
- AirNow.gov: official AQI readings and forecasts by ZIP code.
- PurpleAir Map: crowdsourced neighborhood air sensors; use alongside official readings.
- CAL FIRE Incidents: active California wildfires and evacuation information.
- InciWeb: federal wildfire incident information, including fires on national forest land in California and Nevada.
- EPA Smoke-Ready Toolbox: guides on preparing for smoke and protecting your health.
- CDC Wildfire Safety: health advice before, during and after a wildfire.
- Mask Oakland: our partner buying and shipping N95 masks to the coalition.
Need masks for your community? Contact HelpSierraBreathe. Want to help more people breathe safely? Donate or volunteer.