What Should You Do When Wildfire Smoke Reaches Northern Colorado?
Wildfire smoke has become one of those summer and early fall realities in Northern Colorado that nobody really looks forward to, but everybody needs to know how to handle.
Some years, the smoke comes from nearby fires. Other times, it drifts in from hundreds of miles away and suddenly the mountains disappear behind a gray-orange haze that makes you wonder if you woke up inside a campfire.
Not ideal.
The good news is that you do not have to panic when smoke reaches Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, Greeley, or the surrounding Northern Colorado communities. But you do need a plan.
A little preparation can make a big difference for your health, your home, your pets, and your peace of mind.
Here are a few simple things to do when wildfire smoke moves into Northern Colorado.
Start by Checking Local Air Quality
Before you decide whether to go for a run, walk the dog, open the windows, or send the kids outside, check the local air quality.
Wildfire smoke can change quickly. The sky may look fine in the morning and hazy by lunch. Or it may smell smoky outside even when visibility still looks decent.
The easiest place to start is with trusted air quality tools like AirNow, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, or local weather alerts.
Pay close attention to the Air Quality Index, often called the AQI. The higher the number, the more caution you should use, especially for children, older adults, pregnant people, and anyone with asthma, heart disease, COPD, or other breathing or heart-related conditions.
A simple rule of thumb: if the air smells smoky, looks hazy, or makes your throat, eyes, or lungs feel irritated, take it seriously.
You do not win a prize for pretending smoke is “probably fine.”
Keep Outdoor Air Outside
When wildfire smoke is bad, your first goal is simple: keep as much outdoor air outside as possible.
Close windows and doors. That includes the windows you normally crack open in the evening when the house feels stuffy.
I know. That cool night air is one of the best parts of living here.
But during a smoke event, open windows can pull fine smoke particles into your home and make your indoor air worse.
If you use window fans, swamp coolers, or whole-house fans, be careful. Some systems can bring outdoor air directly inside. During smoky conditions, that is exactly what you are trying to avoid.
If you are not sure how your system works, this is a good time to check the manual or ask an HVAC professional.
Future you, breathing cleaner air, will be grateful.
Change or Upgrade Your HVAC Filter
Your HVAC filter matters more during wildfire smoke season.
If your system can handle it, consider using a high-efficiency filter rated MERV 13 or higher. These filters can help capture smaller particles, including some of the fine particles found in wildfire smoke.
The important phrase here is: if your system can handle it.
Not every HVAC system is designed for higher-rated filters. A filter that is too restrictive can make your system work harder than it should. When in doubt, check your system specs or ask a trusted HVAC professional.
During smoky stretches, you may also need to replace your filter more often than usual. Smoke can load up a filter faster, especially if your system is running frequently.
A good habit during wildfire season is to keep one or two backup filters at home. It is a small thing that can save you from making a last-minute hardware store run when everyone else in town had the same idea.
Create One Cleaner-Air Room
If the smoke is heavy, it can help to create one cleaner-air room in your home.
This does not need to be complicated.
Choose a room where you can close the door, limit outside air, and run a portable air cleaner if you have one. Bedrooms often work well because that is where you spend several hours at a time.
If you use a portable air purifier, make sure it is sized appropriately for the room and that the filter is clean.
This is especially helpful for people who are more sensitive to smoke, including kids, older adults, and anyone with breathing or heart conditions.
Think of it as your home’s little air-quality retreat.
Less spa day, more survival strategy. But still helpful.
Know When to Stay Indoors
There are days when pushing through is not the right move.
If the AQI is elevated, smoke is visible, or you feel symptoms like coughing, chest tightness, headache, burning eyes, or shortness of breath, it is smart to move activities indoors.
That may mean skipping a run, shortening a dog walk, moving yard work to another day, or choosing an indoor workout instead.
This is especially important for people who are more vulnerable to smoke exposure. Children breathe more air relative to their body size. Older adults and people with heart or lung conditions can also be affected more quickly.
And yes, this is inconvenient.
Northern Colorado people like to be outside. We hike, bike, garden, run, walk dogs, sit on patios, and act personally offended when the weather interrupts our plans.
But wildfire smoke is not just “bad air.” It contains fine particles that can get deep into your lungs.
Some days, the best outdoor plan is making peace with being indoors.
Protect Your Pets, Too
If the air is bothering you, it may be bothering your pets, too.
Dogs, cats, and other animals can be affected by wildfire smoke. They may cough, breathe harder, seem tired, have watery eyes, or act less interested in normal activity.
During smoky conditions, keep pets indoors as much as possible. Take dogs out for short bathroom breaks instead of long walks. Avoid heavy exercise, especially for older pets, puppies, flat-faced breeds, and animals with existing heart or breathing issues.
Keep their water bowls full, and give them a cleaner indoor space to rest.
And if your pet seems to be struggling to breathe, coughing repeatedly, acting unusually weak, or showing concerning symptoms, call your veterinarian.
The walk can wait.
Their lungs matter more than hitting the usual loop around the neighborhood.
Be Careful With Indoor Pollution
When smoke is already affecting the air, try not to add more particles inside your home.
That means limiting things like candles, incense, smoking, and heavy frying or broiling that creates indoor smoke.
Basically, this is not the night to “just sear something real quick” and then fill the kitchen with smoke while your air purifier quietly questions your life choices.
Keep indoor air as clean as you can until outdoor conditions improve.
When the Smoke Clears
Once outdoor air quality improves, you can start airing out your home again.
Open windows when conditions are better. Replace dirty filters if needed. Wipe down surfaces if ash or dust made its way inside. Check on plants, pets, and anyone in the house who may have been more sensitive to the smoke.
Wildfire smoke is part of living in the West, and Northern Colorado is not immune to it.
But small steps can help.
Check the air quality. Keep windows closed when smoke is bad. Use good filtration when possible. Change HVAC filters more often. Stay indoors when conditions call for it. Protect your pets. And do not ignore symptoms just because you had outdoor plans.
The mountains will still be there when the air clears.
Written by Nathan Weinland, leader of the Weinland Team at RE/MAX Alliance
Phone: (970) 690-4088
Email: Sales@TheWeinlandTeam.com
Written by fortcollinsexperience
More From This Category
The Growing Music Options for Northern Colorado
CSU Brings Big Country Energy to Canvas Stadium The music options and venues for Northern Colorado are growing. In July, Colorado State University hosted the Bulls and Beats event, which consisted of a rodeo one day and Professional bull riding (PBR) the other two. On...
The Growing Music Options for Northern Colorado
CSU Brings Big Country Energy to Canvas Stadium The music options and venues for Northern Colorado are growing. In July, Colorado State University hosted the Bulls and Beats event, which consisted of a rodeo one day and Professional bull riding (PBR) the other two. On...
The Growing Music Options for Northern Colorado
CSU Brings Big Country Energy to Canvas Stadium The music options and venues for Northern Colorado are growing. In July, Colorado State University hosted the Bulls and Beats event, which consisted of a rodeo one day and Professional bull riding (PBR) the other two. On...
0 Comments