Article updated 8/8/2024
West Coast wildfires have made the news every year since we originally released this article in 2020. Authorities and residents have continuously seen the devastating impacts of wildfires from Washington to California.
The stats are sobering:
- Year-to-date, the number of California wildfires and the acres burned are higher than the five-year average.
- So far this year, the state has seen a a drastic increase in wildfire activity, with 4,696 wildfires and 768,137 acres burned.
- The Park Fire, believed to be caused by arson, is already the fifth-largest wildfire in state history (and is still burning).
As wildfires rage, they pump seemingly endless amounts of smoke into the air—the air pollution, causing health officials to issue ongoing updates on air quality, including warnings for at-risk individuals or full-scale recommendations to remain indoors.
Read on to learn about earlier trends in CA wildfires and the role air purifier technology plays in keeping people safe.
The Dangers of Wildfire Smoke on Air Quality
Wildfire smoke can make nearly anyone sick due to the mixture of gases, fine particles, and other pollutants emitted from burning trees, buildings, and other materials.
Though symptoms vary, they often include:
- Breathing problems
- Coughing
- Asthma attacks
- Itchy/stinging eyes
- Scratchy throat
- Inflamed sinuses
- Increased heart rate
These health problems don’t just persist during an active fire. You can experience health concerns before, during, and even after a fire.
If you have a preexisting health condition like asthma, COPD, or chronic heart disease, be sure to take extra precautions, as wildfire smoke can exacerbate your condition.
CA Wildfires and Air Purifiers
Though earlier than typical, the western United States has been battling a record-breaking wildfire season.
We touched on California’s fight with flames in the introduction. And unfortunately, Oregon and Washington aren’t faring much better.
Oregon is experiencing its strongest wildfire season in four years. Unprecedented temperatures, high winds, drought, and previous precipitation patterns are all important factors in this uptick.
Governor Tina Davis said the state’s fire season is “off to a very aggressive start,” already declaring five states of emergency due to the flames.
Washington fires also got an early jump. As of May 2024, 124 acres have burned, marking a nearly 40% increase year-over-year. Given the low to moderate precipitation levels in the spring, analysts are concerned that the land will be drier than typical, removing the fire buffer and perhaps setting the stage for more aggressive fires later in the season.
Startling drone footage shows orange, hazy skies, and people will return to homes covered in fine ash. As evacuated and non-evacuated residents alike consider the outlook, many are deeply concerned about the air quality.
And they are not alone.
The infamous 2020 wildfires have likely negated years of efforts to control air pollution—a huge blow to a state with famously below-average air quality.
Plus, new findings from the Alzheimer's Association International Conference found that wildfire smoke could be worse for brain health and increase the risk of dementia as compared to other types of air pollution.
While so much about wildfires feel out of our control,One of the only one effective toolsolutions to improve your indoor air and protect your family when safely downwindfor wildfire air quality is is a premium air purifiers. Having multiple around your home is best practice to lower PM2.5 and reduce smoke odor.
Air Quality and California Fires
AirNow.gov provides real-time fire and smoke maps. To learn how active wildfires are impacting the air quality in your region, you can tap here to access the EPA’s visualized trends and collected air quality data. EPA air quality monitors work every day to track and monitor outdoor air in every region of the country.
AirNow’s published guide on wildfire smoke and public health is a collaborative work between the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). This guide outlines the specific strategies people should use to reduce their exposure to wildfire smoke:
- Limit exposure by staying indoors
- Limit physical activity
- Reduce indoor air pollution sources
- Use respiratory protection
- Create clean-air shelters
- Use air filters and air purifiers
Indoors is a more feasibly controlled environment than outdoors. The most highly recommended way to improve indoor air quality is with air purifiers.
Air Purifiers Reduce Smoke Exposure
The air purifiers recommended by the California Air Resources Board in the above-mentioned document should meet the following specifications:
- Little or no ozone emission
- Appropriately sized for the room
- Individual room or whole house air purifiers
Experts also recommend that air conditioning may need to stay in “recirculate” mode, and windows and outdoor vents should remain closed.
Air Oasis has air purifiers that reduce smoke and pollutants in the air. Our units leverage the most sophisticated technology available to improve indoor air quality. If you are shopping online for an air purifier for smoke or to reduce particulates indoors, here are some of the standards you should use.
Buy an Air Purifier for Wildfire Smoke
It’s tempting to look quickly for an air purifier for wildfire smoke and just grab something off the shelf. This may give you peace of mind but there are a few points of consideration. If you want to truly improve the air in your home and reduce smog, smoke, and other irritants, you need a high-quality air purifier.
You can choose units that work in individual rooms or for your whole home. There are also a variety of technological processes that make an air purifier effective. Here is a brief overview that will empower you to make a suitable choice for the right air purifier for fires or air purifier for smoke.
Air Purifier for Smoke: Technology
Modern air purifiers usually use one or more air purification processes. The best air purification methods should include one or more of the following:
- HEPA: HEPA filters capture contaminants down to a very small size. This is a physical process. HEPA filters will trap the small particles of smoke and pollution emitted by wildfires. It’s an important step but probably not sufficient by itself. The best air purifier for smoke will combine HEPA with some other processes.
- Ionic air purifiers: Ionization gets a bad rap because people associate it with “ozone.” In fact, this cold plasma technology is crucial for the best air purification. Blanketing your room or home in both positive and negative ions, this sophisticated process eliminates volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other particulates from the air. Ionic air purifiers transform indoor air quality and do so very effectively. Tap here to learn more about the technology behind these processes.
- UV air purifiers: UV light became a point of discussion during the COVID-19 pandemic. UV air purifiers can deactivate viruses like the coronavirus, but the downside to this tech is the light requires long dwell times on contaminants for it to work. The best part of an an air purifier with UV light could be to keep the insides of it clean.When you want a comprehensive approach to improving the air quality in your home, you may want a multi-stage air purifier that uses UV light.
Air Purifier for Smoke: Size and Models
To meet the recommended criteria, you should be sure that an air purifier effectively works and is the correct size to filter the air in a certain space.
For instance, our iAdaptAir 2.0 comes in four models that clean up to:
- Small - 1,325 square feet per hour
- Medium - 2,650 square feet per hour
- Large - 3,975 square feet per hour
- Pro - 5,474 square feet per hour
Many people will choose to buy air purifiers for each room in their home or for the rooms where they sleep or spend most of their time. Creating clean air zones is a powerful way to protect your family from the adverse health impact of wildfire smoke.
Best Air Purifier for Wildfire Smoke
Wildfire smoke harms your respiratory system and can cause extreme allergic reactions. Given the prevalence of wildfires so early in the 2024 season, safeguarding your indoor air quality must be a top priority. We encourage you to follow all expert recommendations for limiting outdoor time and creating a sheltered space in your home.
Air Oasis is committed to helping your family. You can buy an air purifier online from us and know that it will add a layer of protection and improve the air quality in your home.
Click here to check out the Air Oasis air purifiers that will keep your family safe during wildfire season and beyond.
