Wildfire smoke and heat

Dealing with wildfire smoke and high temperatures at the same time can be scary. There are many scenarios when it comes to protecting yourself when it's both hot and smoky. Here are some tips to help.

On this page

  1. What are the health risks?
  2. What are the symptoms?
  3. Who is at risk? 
  4. How can I plan?
  5. Can I go outside?
  6. What do I do if I don’t have air conditioning?
  7. What do I do if I have air conditioning?

What are the health risks?

High temperatures and smoke occurring at the same time can be dangerous. Recent scientific evidence suggests that exposure to both smoke and high temperatures at the same time may be much worse for your health than exposure to either of them alone. However, overheating is more dangerous than smoke exposure for most people at risk of health effects. Cool, clean indoor air is the best way to protect yourself.

High temperatures

  • If temperatures are much hotter than usual, your body may not be able to cool itself fast enough. 
  • High temperatures can lead to heat-related symptoms and heat illnesses, such as heat rash, muscle cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and death. 
  • High humidity and high nighttime temperatures, alcohol use, caffeine, prescription drug use, and sunburn might increase your risk of developing a heat-related illness. 

Wildfire smoke

  • Wildfire smoke contains fine particles and gases.
  • Smoke can affect the lungs, heart and other organs.
  • Smoke can lead to asthma attacks and make chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or other lung conditions worse. 
  • Smoke can also worsen heart failure and can increase the risk of heart attack and death.

What are the symptoms?

Heat

  • Never ignore the symptoms of heat-related illness. 
  • Early symptoms of heat-related illness include headache, sweating and thirst, nausea, lightheadedness, fatigue, heat rash, or muscle cramps. 
    • If you have these symptoms, go somewhere cool and sip water until symptoms improve. 
    • Seek medical attention if your symptoms do not improve.
  • Seek immediate medical attention if you have more serious symptoms, including fainting or loss of consciousness, weakness, extreme fatigue, severe nausea and difficulty speaking. 

Smoke

  • Smoke can cause a range of health effects. 
  • Some health effects from smoke are less serious symptoms such as eye, nose, or throat irritation, or coughing, that resolve when the air clears. 
    • If you have these symptoms, go somewhere with cleaner indoor air.
    • If you have to be outside, wear an approved mask or respirator. (See below.) 
  • Smoke may also cause severe problems such as difficulty breathing, wheezing, or heart problems. If these occur, seek medical attention. 

Who is at risk? 

Some people are at increased risk of health effects from high temperatures and wildfire smoke. This includes:

  • People with heart or lung disease
  • People 65+
  • Children and teenagers
  • Pregnant people
  • People with weakened immune systems
  • People with chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, obesity or chronic kidney disease

Some people are at an increased risk because they spend more time exposed to wildfire smoke and heat. This includes:

  • Outdoor workers
  • People experiencing homelessness
  • People exercising outdoors
  • People who can’t easily reduce their exposure to smoke and heat indoors (for example, someone who rents their home)

People who take certain medications are at risk for health effects from high temperatures. However, they haven’t been identified at greater risk from smoke. This includes medications for:

  • Depression
  • Seizures
  • Poor circulation
  • Mental illness

It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about your specific medications.

How can I plan?

Cool, clean indoor air is the best way to protect yourself. Take these steps to help protect yourself from wildfire smoke and high temperatures:

Can I go outside?

  • Limit strenuous activity and exercise when it is hot and smoky. Pay attention to early signs of heat-related illness.
  • Stay hydrated. Choose water or drinks with electrolytes instead of sugary beverages.
  • If you must go outside when there is smoke, protect your health and wear a mask or respirator. 
    • Oregon Health Authority recommends wearing a mask/respirator with:
      • An N, P or R designation (not KN)
      • An efficiency rating of 95, 99 or 100
    • Avoid the following kinds of masks and face coverings, as they have not been shown to prevent smoke exposure:
      • Surgical mask
      • Bandana
      • Common dust mask
      • Cloth or towel
    • KN95 masks/respirators are no longer recommended to protect from smoke exposure.
  • Keep an eye on air quality and temperature conditions, and time your outdoor activities for cooler and less smoky times of day.
    • Be aware that sometimes the coolest part of the day can also be the smokiest part of the day. Consider using a respirator if the cooler part of the day is a smokier time.
  • Rest often in shady areas or indoors.
  • Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing (absorbent or wicking clothing is also appropriate).
  • Outdoor workers may face greater or longer exposure to both smoke and high temperatures and have less ability to spend time indoors. People who work outdoors should be especially careful when there is both smoke and high temperatures present. Employers and workers must follow Oregon’s Heat and Air Quality Hazards protections. 

What do I do if I don’t have air conditioning?

  • Cooling down your home during periods of high temperatures without air conditioning might mean that you will have to allow some smoke inside, such as when you open your windows to use night air for cooling.
  • Both smoke and heat are harmful to your health, but for most people at risk, overheating is more immediately dangerous.

  • If you cannot tolerate any smoke and do not have air conditioning, go somewhere to cool off indoors during the smoke event.

  • Check out this map to find dozens of indoor cool spaces to get relief from both the heat and smoke.
  • Spend time in public places with cooler indoor air, such as libraries, community centers and shopping malls.
  • Consider staying with family and friends who have air conditioning and air cleaners or high-efficiency HVAC filters in use.

Insidie your home: 

  • During the day (before it gets hot outside is best), close windows and window coverings, such as shades, blinds and awnings.
  • At night or early morning when it is cooler, open the windows and use fans to push hot air from rooms or pull in cooler air. 
  • Do not direct the flow of fans toward you when the room is hotter than 90°F. This can cause dehydration.
  • Once the air indoors has cooled, close doors and windows.
  • Use a portable air purifier to filter the indoor air. 
  • If you have forced air heat, set the furnace fan to “on” at the thermostat (with heat off) and use a high-efficiency furnace filter (MERV 13 or greater).
  • Consider purchasing a portable air conditioning unit. 
    • Check with your doctor if your health insurance could cover an AC unit. 
    • People on Medicaid or the Oregon Health Plan may be able to get an AC unit or fan through their coordinated care organization. People can also check with their utility company to learn about assistance with energy bills.

What do I do if I have air conditioning?

Always consult your manufacturer's manual to understand your specific cooling device.

If you have air conditioning, we recommend also using a portable air cleaner when the air is smoky. Your air conditioner may have a filter designed to remove larger particles, like pet hair or dust, but it may not filter the smaller harmful particles found in wildfire smoke. 

If you have an HVAC system, set your AC/furnace to fan/recirculate mode and make sure the filter is clean. Consult an HVAC manual or ask a technician to show you these features on your device. 

Last reviewed August 6, 2026

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