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Wildfire Smoke Safety

Wildfire smoke can travel hundreds of miles and settle over farms that are nowhere near a flame. Outdoor workers breathe it for hours, so planning matters.

How does wildfire smoke affect farm workers?

Smoke contains tiny particles and gases that can irritate eyes, nose and throat and make breathing harder. People with asthma, heart disease or lung disease, older adults, pregnant people and children can be affected more. Workers doing hard physical labor breathe more air, and that increases exposure.

Do not rely on how the air looks or smells. Use official air quality information, such as the Air Quality Index from AirNow, which is run by U.S. government agencies, and follow the health guidance that goes with each level.

Smoke levels can change hour to hour with wind and fire behavior. A good morning does not guarantee a good afternoon, so check again during the day.

• Smoke can reach far from the fire
• Hard work increases how much you breathe
• Some people are at higher risk

How should you check the air before work?

Make a habit of checking official air quality information each morning and again midday during smoke season. Check state and local health departments for alerts. Decide ahead of time what readings change the work plan, and base that on the published guidance from EPA or your health department.

Give workers permission to stop work if they feel unwell. Symptoms to take seriously include trouble breathing, chest pain, dizziness and persistent coughing. For severe symptoms, call 911.

Keep a log of readings and actions on the days smoke is present. It helps you refine the plan next season and shows workers that their health is taken seriously.

What changes can protect workers?

The best protections reduce exposure: move tasks indoors, shift hard work to times when the air is better, add rest breaks in cleaner air, and reschedule non-urgent jobs. Where outdoor work must continue, ask OSHA and your state occupational safety agency what rules apply to employers.

Respirators need correct selection, fitting and training. Ordinary dust masks and cloth coverings do not filter fine smoke particles in the same way. See OSHA and NIOSH guidance, and ask an occupational health provider for fit testing.

Hydration and rest matter as well. Heat and smoke can occur together, and each adds strain. See the heat safety articles on this site and the CDC for guidance.

• Shift work to better air if possible
• Add breaks in cleaner indoor air
• Follow OSHA and NIOSH respirator guidance
• Do not rely on cloth masks for smoke

How do you keep indoor air cleaner?

Create a clean room or break area. Keep windows and doors closed as much as practical, and ask a heating and cooling professional or the EPA about filters and portable air cleaners. Avoid adding indoor pollution through smoking, candles or frying, and avoid vacuuming that stirs up dust.

Equipment cabs may also help. Check the owner's manual for filter guidance and replace filters according to the maker's schedule.

If you rely on a house or shop with no filtration, ask local health officials whether community clean-air spaces are open, and let workers know where they are.

What about animals and livestock?

Animals can also be affected by smoke. Watch for coughing, eye discharge and labored breathing, and call your veterinarian if you see them. Provide clean water and avoid hard work or transport when smoke is heavy, according to veterinary guidance.

Your veterinarian and extension service can describe signs to watch for in each species and when to seek help.

Poultry, horses and animals with existing breathing problems may be at higher risk. Your veterinarian can tell you what to look for.

When should you seek help or leave?

If you or a worker has severe symptoms, call 911. For lingering cough or breathing changes, contact a health care provider. If fire threatens your area, follow evacuation orders at once. See the article on wildfire evacuation planning for how to prepare.

After smoke events, clean indoor surfaces and replace filters as advised by official sources, and check on neighbors who are older or have health conditions.

Keep a list of contact numbers and a go bag ready during fire season, with medications, important papers and phone chargers.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.