Wildfire Smoke Prep For Los Angeles County Households

When smoke blows into Los Angeles County, it can turn a normal day into a health risk fast. You might see hazy skies, smell smoke, or notice scratchy eyes and a cough. The good news is you can protect your home and your family with a few practical steps. This guide gives you the how-to for tracking air quality, cleaning indoor air, using masks, and finding trusted local alerts. Let’s dive in.

Why wildfire smoke matters

Wildfire smoke contains tiny particles called PM2.5 that can get deep into your lungs and affect your heart and breathing. Public health guidance uses the Air Quality Index (AQI) for PM2.5 to tell you when to act. AQI basics include these ranges:

• Good: 0–50
• Moderate: 51–100
• Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups: 101–150
• Unhealthy: 151–200
• Very Unhealthy: 201–300
• Hazardous: 301+

If AQI is around 100 or higher, start taking precautions. At 151 or higher, prioritize staying indoors, reducing activity, and using filtration.

How to monitor LA County air

You want timely, trustworthy information when smoke rolls in. Start with the AirNow Fire & Smoke Map guide for real-time smoke and AQI. Pair that with local updates from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and South Coast AQMD smoke advisories.

California’s Air Resources Board offers Smoke Ready tips and the Smoke Spotter app for statewide forecasts and alerts. You can also view neighborhood sensors, but remember that crowd-sourced data can vary. For decisions, lean on AirNow and local agencies.

Make indoor air safer

Reducing smoke inside your home is the most effective step you can take. Focus on filtration and limiting how much outdoor air gets indoors.

Central HVAC tips

• Set the fan to ON so air passes through your filter more often.
• Close or turn off any fresh-air intake if your system has one. Confirm your model first.
• Upgrade to the highest MERV rating your system can safely handle. Many California experts recommend MERV 13 when compatible. Check your manual or an HVAC pro, and plan to replace filters more often during smoke. Guidance is outlined in CARB’s Smoke Ready resources.

Portable air cleaners and sizing

Portable HEPA units can cut indoor smoke dramatically when sized correctly. Look for the smoke CADR. A simple rule of thumb is a smoke CADR close to the room’s square footage for heavy use. The EPA explains CADR and sizing in its wildfire course on preparing for smoke and heat. Avoid any air cleaner that intentionally produces ozone.

DIY option: Corsi-Rosenthal box

A Corsi-Rosenthal box uses a box fan and MERV 13 filters to create a strong, low-cost air cleaner. Many universities and public health groups report large reductions in indoor particles when built and used correctly. Secure the filters, use a modern fan with safety features, and do not leave units running unattended if children or pets can tamper with them.

Set up a clean room

Create one room as your clean room, especially if someone in your home is sensitive to smoke. The EPA’s guide to creating a clean room suggests you:

• Choose a room with few windows and doors.
• Run a HEPA purifier or CR box sized for the room continuously.
• Seal gaps around doors as practical and keep windows closed.
• Avoid particle-producing activities like frying, burning candles, or vacuuming without a HEPA vacuum.

Protect people and pets

When you must go outside in smoky conditions, wear a properly fitted NIOSH-approved respirator such as an N95. Cloth and surgical masks do not filter fine smoke well. See the CDC’s wildfire safety guidance on staying safe and using respirators.

Sensitive groups include people with asthma or heart disease, older adults, pregnant people, and young children. Take precautions earlier, even at AQI 101–150. Keep pets indoors during smoky periods, limit activity, and provide fresh water.

What to do during a smoke event

• Check AQI often. Use AirNow and local advisories. If AQI is 101 or higher, reduce outdoor activity. At 151 or higher, stay indoors and turn on filtration.
• Close windows and doors. Set the HVAC to recirculate and run the fan.
• Run your HEPA purifier or CR box on high in your clean room.
• Avoid vacuuming without a HEPA filter, frying, wood-burning, and candles.
• If you must be outside, wear an N95 and limit exertion and time outdoors.
• Consider public clean-air or cooling centers if home mitigation is not enough. LA County posts updates on centers and services through Public Health and 2-1-1.

Cleanup and recovery basics

When ash settles, protect your lungs and skin. Wear an N95 or P100, gloves, eye protection, long sleeves, and sturdy shoes. Clean with damp methods, wet dusting, and a HEPA vacuum. Avoid sweeping or using blowers that kick ash into the air. The EPA shares more tips in its wildfires and indoor air guidance, and LA County posts recovery updates and services on its wildfire recovery portal.

If there was structural damage, follow local return and cleanup instructions. Water systems can be affected after fires, so watch for county or state water notices.

Know local rules and worker protections

If you or someone you hire works outdoors, California’s wildfire smoke standard requires employers to monitor AQI and take specific steps when AQI for PM2.5 is 151 or higher. Learn the requirements in the Cal/OSHA standard on Protection from Wildfire Smoke.

Quick prep checklist

• Stock NIOSH-approved N95s for each household member.
• Buy a HEPA purifier or build a CR box for your main living space. Keep extra filters.
• Check your HVAC filter and upgrade to the highest safe MERV rating.
• Designate a clean room and gather supplies.
• Save key links: AirNow guidance, AQI basics, LA County Public Health smoke page, South Coast AQMD advisories, CARB Smoke Ready.

Preparing now helps you feel calmer and more in control when skies turn hazy. If you are planning a move or weighing home features that support better air quality, we are here to help you think it through. Reach out to Otoniel Fonseca for trusted, local guidance.

FAQs

What AQI number should I act on for LA County smoke?

• Start taking precautions around AQI 100. At 151 or higher, stay indoors as much as possible, use filtration, and wear an N95 if you must go outside.

How do I pick the right size HEPA purifier?

• Choose a unit with a smoke CADR close to your room’s square footage for heavy smoke days, and run it on a higher setting in your clean room.

Are N95 masks necessary for wildfire smoke?

• Yes when you need to be outdoors in smoke. Cloth and surgical masks do not filter fine particles well, so use a properly fitted N95 or similar.

How do I set up a clean room in an apartment?

• Pick a room with few windows and doors, keep them closed, run a HEPA purifier or CR box continuously, and avoid activities that create particles.

Can I safely clean wildfire ash at home?

• Yes with care. Wear an N95, gloves, and eye protection, and use damp cleaning and a HEPA vacuum. Do not sweep or use blowers that lift ash into the air.