5 Tips for Working Through the Fire Smoke

We are lucky to enjoy some great things in California, like wonderfully moderate climates and lots of hills that provide spectacular views.  But this month unseasonal wildfires have been absolutely tragic for thousands of families across the state, bringing devastating losses, including scores of people who have perished and hundreds who are as yet still missing.  Our hearts as with all of them.

As we muster to help those communities closest to us, here is a list we compiled of the best practices for avoiding the dangers that fire leaves behind while you continue to work:

1. Limit your outdoor exposure whenever possible, and keep your indoor spaces sealed as best as you can.  There are many gaseous chemicals that are dangerous to inhale, especially when houses have burned, but the bigger concern is particulate matter that can be lodged in the lungs or find its way into the bloodstream, and avoiding exposure to the ash that floats around outside is the easiest was to avoid those particles.
2. Wear an N95 (or higher)-rated respiratory mask.  That designation is determined by the FDA based on the ability to filter out 95% of particulate matter that is 3 microns wide or greater (by comparison, a red blood cell is 5 microns wide).  Read and follow the guidelines for best use on the product.
3. Change your mask frequently.  Guidelines for how long a mask will last should be on the product packaging.  For more complex respirators, you may be able to change out the HEPA filter, and you should do so as recommended.  
4. Keep your eye on the air quality so you can prepare accordingly.  In our area, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District publishes their data and recommendations every day, and is the authority for what you should do to stay safe.
5. Leave the cleanup to the professionals.  Leaf blowers and other tools that kick up the ash and dust left behind after a fire, and even just the simple act of sweeping, will recirculate the particulate matter in the air and exacerbate exposure.

Here is a New York Times Article  that will give you more detailed information about air quality and the issues that follow a disaster.


- Jon Leon Guerrero