Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsWildfire smoke is a seasonal fact of life across the West, and Reno is no exception. It is not a daily event and it does not need to be a reason to avoid moving here, but newcomers do better when they know the tools before the first smoky week. The Washoe County Air Quality Management Division runs a Be Smoke Smart page, and this page follows its structure.
What is in the smoke
The county explains that wildfire smoke is mainly carbon dioxide, water vapor, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, hydrocarbons and other organic chemicals, nitrogen oxides and trace minerals, and that the exact mix depends on the fuel, the temperature of the fire and the wind. For short exposures of hours to weeks, particulate matter is the main concern.
PM2.5 particles are small enough to be inhaled deeply. The county says smoke can cause eye and respiratory irritation and, at the serious end, reduced lung function, bronchitis and worsened asthma, and that people with heart or lung disease should follow their doctor's advice.
Four questions, four places to look
The Be Smoke Smart page organizes its resources around four questions, and the same approach works for you.
- Where is the fire? Cal Fire current incidents, InciWeb and Nevada Fire Info.
- Where will the smoke go? The National Weather Service and the California Smoke Blog.
- What is the air quality now? AirNow, the Fire and Smoke Map and the ALERT Wildfire cameras.
- What should I do? The county's Be Smoke Smart steps and its Smoke Ready Toolbox.
What the county says to do
- Reduce or stop outdoor activity and stay inside.
- Keep the air conditioner on if you have one, with the fresh-air intake closed, the filter clean and the windows closed.
- Follow the air quality index on AirNow.gov.
- Follow your doctor's advice, especially if you have heart or lung disease.
- Remember that wet or dry cloths, dust masks and surgical masks do not protect against fine particulates; a properly fitted NIOSH N95 respirator can offer some protection if you must be outside.
- Stay hydrated, and keep indoor air clean by avoiding candles, vacuuming and tobacco smoke.
Set up your new home before the season
Find the air filter, learn its size and buy spares, since the county's advice depends on a clean filter. Locate the fresh-air intake setting on your thermostat or system, and make sure the windows close firmly. Renters can ask the landlord about the filter schedule. These are small tasks that fit well into your first month, and they are easier before the first smoky afternoon than during it.
Planning a move around smoke
A smoky week is hard on anyone doing heavy work outdoors, including a household unloading boxes. If you have flexibility, watch the air quality index in the days before your delivery and talk with your estimator early if conditions look poor. Your written estimate describes your delivery window, so any change is a conversation to have in advance.
Inside the home, unpack with windows closed and the air handling set as the county advises. Pets and plants also feel the smoke; keep animals indoors on poor air days. If a smoky stretch overlaps a gap between homes, storage between moves keeps your belongings in the warehouse until you are ready. The weather page and the new resident checklist put smoke season in the larger picture.