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.
Reviewed by Tom Hunt, Wildfire Risk Expert
Fire locations come from NIFC, last pulled Aug 7, 8:47 PM PDT — they update about once a day and are not real-time. In an emergency, always follow the official orders from your local authorities. Basemap © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap.
Loaded Aug 7, 11:48 PM EDT · source: NWS NDGD Smoke Forecast + EPA AirNow
Now: 375 active fires tracked · no forecast smoke loaded
Get alerted before wildfire smoke reaches your home
The moment air quality near you turns unhealthy — or a new fire starts that could send smoke your way — we'll email you. So you can close the windows, run the purifier, and keep kids and elders inside before it arrives. We watch EPA AirNow & NIFC feeds against your exact address. 100% free.
Unhealthy air
When AQI near your home reaches unhealthy levels (EPA AirNow).
New fire nearby
A new wildfire starts close enough to send smoke your way.
Your exact address
Tuned to your neighborhood, not a whole region.
100% free
No account, no credit card — unsubscribe anytime.
Free air-quality alerts — unsubscribe anytime. Next: add your home address so alerts are about your neighborhood.
Awareness alerts from official EPA AirNow & NWS data. For a medical emergency, call 911.
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.
About our data & sources
Wildfire smoke is a health issue, so we're transparent about where this map’s data comes from. We don’t model or estimate smoke ourselves — every layer is pulled directly from official U.S. government feeds and refreshed automatically. Each source below links to its primary publisher so you can verify it.
The smoke layer is the National Weather Service’s NDGD (National Digital Guidance Database) smoke forecast — a gridded forecast of surface smoke concentration (µg/m³) for the contiguous U.S., produced by NOAA. It forecasts the near‑surface smoke most relevant to health.
The air‑quality layer reflects AirNow — a partnership of the U.S. EPA, NOAA, the National Park Service, NASA, the CDC, and tribal, state, and local air agencies. Readings come from state, local, and tribal monitors using EPA federal reference or equivalent methods. AirNow data is preliminary real‑time data and is not the fully validated regulatory record.
The active‑fire layer shows current wildfire incidents reported to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) interagency feed — the source fires producing the smoke.
Forecast smoke and live air quality can differ — smoke aloft in the forecast may not yet be at ground level, and local monitors capture conditions the grid can miss. For the most authoritative, official AQI reading where you are, always confirm at AirNow.gov and your local air district. For the science behind smoke and your health, see our wildfire smoke health guide.
Related
Smoke map by state
Live smoke and air quality for every state — zoom in on your area for local readings.
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.