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Wildfire Smoke and Health by State

Wildfire smoke and health guides by state: seasons, AQI, risk groups, indoor air, testing.

Reviewed September 2026 · 3 min read
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Health-first guides for the states where wildfire smoke is a season rather than an event: when it runs, what the AQI means for a household, who is most at risk, keeping it out of the house, and when to test.

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States

  • California — wildfire smoke in California: seasons, AQI, who is at risk, keeping it out of the house
  • Colorado — wildfire smoke in Colorado: seasons, AQI, who is at risk, keeping it out of the house
  • Washington — wildfire smoke in Washington: seasons, AQI, who is at risk, keeping it out of the house
  • Oklahoma — wildfire smoke in Oklahoma: seasons, AQI, who is at risk, keeping it out of the house
  • Utah — wildfire smoke in Utah: seasons, AQI, who is at risk, keeping it out of the house
  • Montana — wildfire smoke in Montana: seasons, AQI, who is at risk, keeping it out of the house
  • Hawaii — wildfire smoke in Hawaii: seasons, AQI, who is at risk, keeping it out of the house
  • Wyoming — wildfire smoke in Wyoming: seasons, AQI, who is at risk, keeping it out of the house

How the state pages are built

Every guide cites the state’s air-quality and health agencies and its fire agency, uses the national AQI [3] scale, follows the EPA’s indoor-air guidance [4] for wildfire smoke, and ends where health guidance has to end after a plume: with the house measured before anyone moves back in.

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The form on every page reaches the same two trades; the state page adds the local rules.

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Frequently asked questions

Is wildfire smoke different from city pollution?

The AQI scale is the same and the fine particles are the same size class; what differs is how high the concentrations climb during an episode and how many days they stay there. The EPA guidance linked on each page treats wildfire smoke as an indoor-air event for exactly that reason.

What is a clean room?

One room with doors and windows closed and a HEPA air cleaner sized for it, where the household spends the worst hours. It is the practical unit of protection when sealing the whole house is not possible.

When should the house itself be tested?

When the smell persists after the outdoor air clears, when ash is visible indoors, or when anyone in the household is in a risk group and the home sat in a plume. The hygienist’s report answers both the health and the claim question.

Does this replace medical advice?

No. Shortness of breath, chest pain or confusion during a smoke episode are emergencies. These guides cover the house; a clinician covers the person.

Sources

  1. United Policyholders — Smoke and Ash Damage from a Wildfire — https://uphelp.org/claim-guidance-publications/smoke-and-ash-damage-from-a-wildfire/
  2. ANSI/IICRC S700 Standard for Professional Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration — https://iicrc.org/s700/
  3. AirNow — AQI basics — https://www.airnow.gov/aqi/aqi-basics/
  4. U.S. EPA — Wildfires and Indoor Air Quality — https://www.epa.gov/emergencies-iaq/wildfires-and-indoor-air-quality-iaq