Wildfire Smoke Map
See where wildfire smoke and poor air quality are right now across the U.S. — including smoke drifting down from Canadian wildfires — layered over the active fires producing it. Find smoke near you, then protect your air.
Smoke + air quality, live over active fires:
How to read air quality (AQI)
Wildfire smoke’s main hazard is fine particulate (PM2.5). Here’s what each AQI band means.
0–50 · Good
Air quality is satisfactory; little or no risk.
51–100 · Moderate
Unusually sensitive people should consider limiting prolonged exertion.
101–150 · Unhealthy for sensitive groups
People with heart/lung disease, kids, and older adults should limit exertion.
151–200 · Unhealthy
Everyone may begin to feel effects; sensitive groups more seriously.
201–300 · Very unhealthy
Health alert — everyone may experience serious effects.
301+ · Hazardous
Emergency conditions; stay indoors with filtered air.
How to protect yourself from wildfire smoke
Stay indoors and seal up
Close windows and doors, and run your AC or HVAC on recirculate so you’re not pulling smoke inside.
Run a HEPA air purifier
A true-HEPA purifier sized to the room dramatically cuts indoor fine particulate (PM2.5) — the part of smoke that harms lungs.
Make a DIY box-fan filter
A box fan with a MERV-13 furnace filter taped to the back is a cheap, effective backup when purifiers sell out.
Mask up outdoors with an N95
Cloth and surgical masks don’t stop PM2.5. A well-fitted N95 or P100 does. Limit time and exertion outside.
Watch sensitive groups
Kids, older adults, pregnant people, and anyone with asthma, COPD, or heart disease should be most cautious — keep medications handy.
See our picks for air purifiers for wildfire smoke and air-quality monitors.
Official air-quality & fire sources
For authoritative AQI readings and health guidance, use these official sources.
Related
Wildfire smoke map FAQ
How does the wildfire smoke map work?
The map overlays live smoke and air-quality data on top of current wildfire perimeters and incidents. Smoke plumes drift far from the fires that produce them — often hundreds or thousands of miles — so the smoke layer shows where the air is actually affected, while the fire layer shows the source. Zoom to your area or tap “Show smoke near me.”
Why is there wildfire smoke where there are no fires near me?
Wildfire smoke travels with the wind at high altitude and can blanket regions far from any active fire. Much of the smoke that affects the central and eastern U.S. originates from Canadian wildfires hundreds or thousands of miles north. That’s why you can have hazy skies and poor air quality on a day with no local fire at all.
What air quality level is dangerous from wildfire smoke?
Air Quality Index (AQI) above 100 is unhealthy for sensitive groups, above 150 is unhealthy for everyone, and above 200 is very unhealthy. Wildfire smoke’s main hazard is fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which lodges deep in the lungs. When AQI climbs into the orange, red, or purple range, limit outdoor exertion and filter your indoor air.
How do I protect myself from wildfire smoke?
Stay indoors with windows closed and your HVAC on recirculate, run a true-HEPA air purifier (or a DIY box-fan-plus-MERV-13-filter), wear a well-fitted N95 or P100 outdoors, and limit exertion. Kids, older adults, and people with heart or lung conditions should be especially careful.
Is the smoke map live?
Yes — the smoke, air-quality, and active-fire layers refresh from public agency feeds each time you load the map. For official health guidance and the most authoritative AQI readings, also check AirNow.gov and your local air district.
FireRisk.ai is for awareness, not emergency guidance, and the health tips here are general information — not medical advice. If you have a heart or lung condition, are pregnant, elderly, or caring for children, consult your doctor and follow AirNow.gov guidance. For official air-quality readings, use AirNow.gov and your local air district; for evacuations and emergencies, follow local authorities and call 911.