Wildfire Smoke & Air Quality Alerts: What to do now (and where to check)

Wildfire smoke can carry fine particle pollution far beyond burn areas. When particle levels look likely to rise, the National Weather Service (NWS) may relay an Air Quality Alert (wildfire-smoke “health advisory”) to encourage practical steps that reduce breathing and heart/lung risks.

What an “Air Quality Alert” for wildfire smoke is trying to protect you from

These alerts are about air you can’t see: tiny smoke particles can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat and can make breathing harder—especially for people with heart or lung disease. Federal public-health guidance also flags higher risk for older adults and children during smoke events.

The alert is meant to prompt risk-reducing actions while conditions are changing—so you’re not waiting for symptoms to appear.

A concrete, dated example of how the alert looks

On July 7, 2026, NWS Denver/Boulder issued an Air Quality Alert relaying an advisory from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.

Issued: 410 PM MDT Tue Jul 7, 2026
Advisory window: 900 AM Tuesday July 07 to 900 AM Wednesday July 08

The alert warned that moderate to heavy smoke could affect the listed area through at least Wednesday morning, and its health recommendations focused on action for people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children—specifically: reduce prolonged or heavy exertion.

How to read these notices: look for the “WHAT/WHERE/WHEN” sections (scope and timing), then the “IMPACTS” and “HEALTH INFORMATION” sections (the specific risk and recommended actions).

Who should take wildfire-smoke Air Quality Alerts most seriously

• Children and teens (more vulnerable airways)
• Older adults
• People with heart or lung conditions (including asthma/COPD)
• Pregnant people (NIH notes researchers are continuing to study possible impacts)
• Anyone already feeling symptoms when smoke starts

What to do now (step-by-step)

1. Check the latest AQI and smoke conditions for your location. Don’t rely only on the alert wording—confirm conditions in the AirNow tools.
2. Reduce outdoor time and avoid heavy exertion. If the advisory targets sensitive groups, take the guidance seriously even if you feel okay.
3. Keep smoke out of your home. Close windows/doors and minimize indoor activities that add pollution.
4. Use cleaner indoor air if you can. Run HVAC filters or use an air cleaner in the rooms where people spend the most time.
5. Respirators: consider guidance carefully. AirNow/NIH describe tight-fitting N95 respirators as a tool for smoke exposure when you must be outdoors, but if you have heart/lung conditions, consider talking with your health care provider first. If wearing a respirator makes breathing harder, get to cleaner air.
6. If symptoms worsen, get medical help. Follow any action plan you already have with your clinician, especially for chronic heart/lung conditions.

Where to check the latest wildfire-smoke guidance (any U.S. location)

• AirNow’s Fire and Smoke Map (live smoke + AQI): use fire.airnow.gov (also accessible in the AirNow app). This is the fastest place to see smoke plumes, near real-time air quality, and smoke outlooks in one spot.
• Local NWS Air Quality Alerts (AQA products): search for your area’s “Air Quality Alert” (wildfire smoke) on weather.gov so you can confirm your timing and recommended actions.

Because smoke can change hour to hour, your safest next step after reading any alert is to re-check the current AQI and smoke conditions before you make outdoor plans.

Sources

• NWS example Air Quality Alert (AQA) for wildfire smoke
• U.S. EPA: Wildland Fires and Smoke
• AirNow PDF: Wildfire Smoke guide (public actions + respirator guidance)
• NIH News in Health: Watch Out for Wildfire Smoke