Wildfire Smoke and Your Health: A Guide for Spokane Patients

Aug 6

4 min read

Shill Med header graphic featuring an N95 mask, health checklist, and Spokane Falls skyline under smoky skies, titled 'Wildfire Smoke and Your Health: A Guide for Spokane Patients'. — The recent Spokane Wildfire Smoke has created a new round of a recurring health challenge for Washingtonians. Take a glance at this guide to learn more about how to stay healthy through these challenging times.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Otto Shill, DO, FACP, DABOM on Aug 6, 2026. Dr, Shill is a board-certified internist and physician leader specializing in internal medicine, preventive health, and metabolic care. As a Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) and Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine (DABOM), Dr. Shill integrates osteopathic principles with evidence-based clinical medicine to address systemic health risks, including the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic impacts of environmental toxins like wildfire smoke and fine particulate matter ($\text{PM}_{2.5}$). With clinical expertise in managing chronic inflammatory conditions, he translates complex air quality data into practical, patient-centered strategies for long-term health protection.

Spokane is in the middle of a serious wildfire smoke event. Following the Old Trails Fire and other blazes that broke out August 1, air quality has remained in the Unhealthy/Red range, with forecasters expecting Unhealthy conditions to continue as smoke from the Spokane Complex Fire and other regional fires keeps affecting the area. Some readings have reached Very Unhealthy levels. Here's what you need to know.

Why Smoke Is Dangerous

Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5) — particles small enough to travel deep into your lungs and even enter your bloodstream. It also carries gases and irritants that inflame your airways. Everyone is affected, but the risk is highest for:

Young children (lungs are still developing and they breathe faster for their size)
Adults 65 and older
Pregnant people
Anyone with asthma, COPD, heart disease, diabetes, or other chronic conditions
People who work outdoors

Common symptoms include coughing, throat irritation, eye irritation, headache, chest tightness, wheezing, and unusual shortness of breath or fatigue with normal activity. People with heart disease should be especially alert — smoke exposure can also trigger chest pain, irregular heartbeat, and in rare cases, heart attack or stroke.

Understanding Air Quality Levels

Check the Air Quality Index (AQI) before planning your day — conditions can shift quickly with wind changes, so check often rather than once in the morning. Visit spokanecleanair.org/current-air-quality or download the EPA AirNow app.

Green (0–50): Good. Normal activities are fine.
Yellow (51–100): Acceptable for most. Sensitive individuals should reduce prolonged outdoor exertion.
Orange (101–150): Unhealthy for sensitive groups. Limit prolonged outdoor activity if you're in a high-risk group.
Red (151–200): Unhealthy for everyone. Stay indoors. Keep windows closed.
Purple/Maroon (201+): Very unhealthy to hazardous. Stay indoors. Avoid all outdoor exertion.

What to Try at Home First

For mild symptoms, these steps often help:

Stay inside as much as possible. Keep windows and doors closed. If you have air conditioning, set it to recirculate so it doesn't pull in outside air.
Run a HEPA air purifier in the room where you spend the most time, and move it to your bedroom at night. HEPA filters can reduce indoor particle levels by 50–90%. If you have a central HVAC system, upgrade to a MERV-13 filter. A low-cost alternative: tape a MERV-13 furnace filter to a box fan.
Avoid making indoor air worse. Skip smoking, vaping, wood stoves, fireplaces, candles, incense, and even vacuuming — all of which stir up or add particles indoors.
If you must go outside, wear a properly fitted N95 mask — not a cloth or surgical mask — and keep outdoor activity light and brief. Proper fit matters: air should not leak around the edges.
Use over-the-counter relief as appropriate: saline nasal rinses, artificial tears for eye irritation, and your usual asthma or allergy medications used exactly as prescribed.
Seek cleaner air if home isn't well-sealed. Libraries, malls, and movie theaters often serve as accessible clean-air spaces if you don't have air conditioning or filtration at home.
Check on vulnerable friends, family, or neighbors, especially those with breathing or heart conditions who may be more affected.

When to Contact Your Doctor — or Call 911

Reach out to your care team if you notice:

Symptoms that don't improve after staying indoors with clean air
Increased use of a rescue inhaler beyond your normal pattern
New or worsening shortness of breath during ordinary activity
Persistent chest tightness, dizziness, palpitations, or unusual fatigue
Symptoms in a child, older adult, or pregnant patient that seem to be progressing

Call 911 or go to the emergency room immediately for:

Difficulty breathing or speaking in full sentences
Chest pain or pressure
Confusion, fainting, or bluish lips or face
Any symptom that feels severe or rapidly worsening

If you're experiencing health symptoms, don't hesitate to contact a health care provider — or call 911 for anything severe.

Be Ready in Case You Need to Leave

Have a grab-and-go bag ready with:
At least 3 days of medications
Water, food, and phone chargers
Important documents (ID, insurance cards)
N95 masks for each family member
Supplies for children or pets

Know your evacuation routes and sign up for Spokane County emergency alerts.

Looking Ahead

Smoke is expected to affect the region intermittently through Thursday, with conditions improving considerably by Friday as weather patterns shift. Until then, treat air quality checks as part of your daily routine — the same way you'd check the weather — and don't hesitate to reach out to our office if symptoms are affecting your daily life.

For real-time local air quality, check spokanecleanair.org/current-air-quality.

Important References for this article: