Wildfire smoke is an unwelcome guest that can quickly turn an otherwise beautiful Helena day into one best spent inside, playing social casino games or catching up with the latest book from your favorite author. But a simple, proactive plan, such as knowing how to check air quality, creating a “clean-air” safe room, and limiting your time outdoors, can help keep your family safe on bad air-quality days. Taking time to prepare before smoke levels rise can make those difficult days far less stressful and easier to manage.
Trusting the Data
For those who live in and around Helena, Montana, getting ready for smoke season has just become part of their yearly routine. The first step is to trust air quality alerts and then set up a designated “safe room” for your loved ones.
You can’t rely on looks alone. Sometimes a thick haze isn’t actually the worst air. Helena residents should check the Air Quality Index (AQI), which provides a standardized, color-coded way to better understand air quality. Good go-to sources include the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the EPA’s AirNow website or app. These tools can translate raw data into an easy-to-follow scale from Green or “Good” to Maroon, or “Hazardous.” They even include specific health advice with each level.
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As an example, say the sky looks a little foggy over Helena, but the AirNow app shows an AQI of 75, which is Yellow or “Moderate.” The general advice at that point is for people who are extra sensitive to poor air quality to take it easy and consider staying outdoors. But if the AQI jumps to 155, which is Red, or “Unhealthy,” then the advice is different. Everyone, regardless of medical conditions, should limit time outdoors.
Creating a “Clean-Air Room”
If you get a warning that the air outside is tanking, don’t panic. Instead, focus on keeping the air inside as clean as possible. You can turn one room in your home, such as a bedroom or spare room, into a temporary “clean-air room” to give everyone a break from the smoke. To set up the space, first seal it. Keep all of the windows and doors closed. If you have an AC or ductless unit, turn it off because it pulls in outside air. Use towels or duct tape to seal up any big gaps around windows, doors, or AC units.
Next, clean the air with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter. For the Helena area, it may be a good idea to buy a standalone, portable air purifier that’s correctly sized for your safe room. A more affordable alternative is a homemade Corsi-Rosenthal Box, which you can construct with a box fan and four MERV filters. You then close all vents leading outside and have any family member with a chronic condition, such as asthma, spend most of their time in this “clean-air” safe room.
Who Benefits the Most?
Although smoke is harmful to everyone, you may need to take extra precautions with family members who have underlying conditions. Children, whose lungs are still developing and who breathe more air per pound of body weight, and older adults, who often have existing heart or lung issues, need clean air in general. Don’t forget to relocate pets to your clear-air room as well, as many are sensitive to poor air quality.
Additionally, if you or your loved one has asthma, COPD, or heart disease, keep all necessary medications, such as inhalers, stocked and ready to be used. They may be advised to spend as little time outdoors as possible, and children and young people should skip any strenuous activities like running or playground games, even if the air is considered moderate or they have no preexisting conditions. For very young children, who can often become restless, entertain them with quiet activities such as board games, coloring books, or movies.
Preparation is Key
Helena residents can better deal with wildfire smoke by checking reliable air quality data and making plans ahead of time. Keeping an eye on the Air Quality Index, creating a clean-air room, and limiting outdoor activities when air quality worsens are all good ways to reduce exposure. Families with kids, seniors, or people with heart or breathing problems should pay extra attention to air quality alerts when there is smoke.
The wildfire smoke season occurs every year in many parts of the West. Helena residents can make smoke days easier to deal with and keep their families healthy until conditions improve by staying informed and making basic indoor air protection ahead of time. Having supplies ready, knowing where to find reliable air quality updates, and discussing a plan with family members can help everyone respond more calmly when smoky conditions arrive.
