Traveling during wildfire season comes with risks. It’s essential to be prepared with the right guidance so you and your family can safely make it past fire hazards. Avoid risking your life and the lives of your loved ones by remaining informed and turning back if you see smoke ahead.
Here are 13 tips for traveling safely in wildfire season.
1. Check Wildfire Activity Before You Go
Before traveling during the late summer to fall season when wildfires abound in states like California and Oregon, check on recent activity with an app — like InciWeb or Cal Fire — and the National Interagency Fire Center. If there are reports of a blaze, you should reroute away from the danger. Offline resources — like the FEMA app, Red Cross Emergency app and local county alert systems — can help you get real-time safety information.
Listening to the local radio or emergency channels can also help you stay informed of the direction of wind and fire. Even driving through already burned areas isn’t advisable due to reduced visibility, excess heat and lack of oxygen.
You shouldn’t drive near flames or during emergency services activity, whether ahead of the blaze or immediately after.
2. Pack a “Just in Case” Kit
You may hope for clear skies and beautiful sunny weather, but smoke and evacuation may unexpectedly disrupt your plans. Stock your car or travel bag with bottled water, eye drops, extra medications, N95 masks, a first-aid kit, portable phone chargers, copies of your ID and a basic emergency plan. If you are camping in the area, add a flashlight, fire extinguisher and a whistle. An emergency radio is also a valuable addition to keep you informed when danger approaches.
It’s essential to avoid drinking water from heavily burned areas as the fire and ash often compromise reservoirs with contaminants like benzene, which can have long-lasting health impacts.
3. Prepare Your Car for Safety
Check your car is correctly serviced by following these safety tips:
- Ensure you have enough fuel to get you through an area and a full gas tank if you must take a longer detour.
- Confirm you have sufficient tread on your tires in case you have to travel on dirt roads if traffic gets redirected.
- Frequently clean or replace air filters to remove any harmful chemicals that may remain from driving through smoke.
- Pack emergency supplies like a blanket, which can be used to help someone in an emergency. If the victim is lighter than you, you can try a firefighter carry or shoulder drag, but a blanket will cause the least injury to you and the person needing help.
4. Choose Your Accommodations Carefully
Book refundable airbnbs, hotels and campsites, as these may close due to poor air quality and health risks. Heading into a compromised area to avoid losing a booking fee is dangerous.
Choosing remote accommodations like forest cabins may not be advisable during wildfire season — when departing, you may need to drive on a winding backroad, increasing your risk. If you prefer to rough it by pitching a tent off the beaten path, ranger stations often provide trail and safety information to hikers.
5. Familiarize Yourself With Local Evacuation Routes
Every region has its own evacuation protocols. When you arrive, check the local routes and ask locals about emergency roads and gathering places. Take screenshots of the maps, as network coverage may not be available if there’s heavy smoke during a fire.
If you are unfamiliar with the area, you should invest in a high-quality printed map. Familiarize yourself with it before you set out.
If you’re from out of state, tune in your emergency radio to the local frequencies and receive the updates that apply to your area. Local authorities will know the area best and will be extra vigilant during periods with increased wildfire risk. If at any point you notice signs of danger, immediately contact local fire marshals.
6. Avoid High-Risk Outdoor Activities
You may wish to stop when driving long distances to rest, stretch your legs or enjoy lunch at a picnic stop. However, smoking, lighting fire bricks for a barbeque, leaving bottles lying about and setting off fireworks can all trigger sparks. Even a backfiring car can cause sparks, quickly becoming a runaway blaze.
Many travelers make illegal fires during seasons when a burn ban is in effect, which is extremely dangerous. Even slightly smoldering ashes can ignite disaster when wind strength picks up. A glass bottle can act like a magnifying glass, causing heat to focus and ignite in a dry brush or other kindling material, so avoid leaving glass bottles or pieces of glass lying about.
7. Monitor Air Quality in Real Time
Flames aren’t the only threat when traveling in areas that are burning. Air quality significantly affects health, especially for people with respiratory conditions like asthma. Smoke also travels fast and may affect areas where there’s been no burning. Check with air quality apps like AirNow, IQAir and PurpleAir, which show localized air quality index readings.
Any index reading above 100 can harm those with compromised breathing, while 150 and above can affect anyone. Respiratory safety requires specialized breathing equipment like an N95 mask in these cases. It’s a great idea to keep an appropriate mask in your car when you travel during wildfire season, but even a wetted bandana can help you in a pinch.
8. Use Your Car Cabin’s Recirculation
Keep your cabin air clean if you drive through a smoky area. Set your car’s climate controls to recirculate the cabin air without taking in air from outside. You should close windows to keep any smoke out, as it may contain carbon monoxide and cyanide, which can be toxic — even in small quantities.
Exposure can cause fatality and serious health risks, even affecting you after you’ve left the contaminated area. Avoid inhaling smoke at all costs. If you still notice fumes entering the car cabin, you can cover the air vents with damp cloths, which act as additional filters to trap fine particles.
9. Think Twice About Fire Season Travel
The 2025 California wildfire season caused significant smoke pollution, even blowing over the Pacific Ocean — miles from the nearest blaze. Since many of these fires also consume buildings, their gases can contain volatile compounds like asbestos, lead and chlorine, which are incredibly harmful to anyone traveling through the area. Fine particle levels may be up to 100 times higher than usual, making the smoke exceptionally dangerous.
If you hear of a raging wildfire, avoid traveling near it, and if you intend to drive longer distances or go on road trips, wait until burn season has passed. Alternatively, consider keeping your travels to days with mild to no wind and cooler temperatures so the weather isn’t favorable to combustion.
10. Obey Road Closures and Detours
When the winds start pushing a fire, conditions can quickly become harmful, so check road apps for notices of road closures and detours. Mountainous and forested areas are more likely to close without much notice. Avoid getting stuck by checking 511 on your phone for the latest guidance on region-specific road information to help you make wise decisions. You can also visit local DOT websites, which inform truckers about road conditions and are updated frequently.
Avoid slipping past a closure sign because you’re in a rush. The risk of getting stuck is high, and rescue is unlikely if nobody knows where you are.
11. Save Fire Photos for Later
Images of blazes online can cause others to travel to the area to watch the spectacle, but this clogs roads and makes it impossible for firefighters to safely get where they must be to control the blaze. Wait until the danger has passed or you have left the area before posting images with location tags.
If an active fire rages without containment, you should keep driving and not stop for photos. Fires are unpredictable and can easily change direction or jump, trapping you between the flames.
12. Watch for Obstacles on the Road
When driving through heavy smoke, you must remain alert for obstacles like fallen trees and power lines, which could obstruct the road. You may get stuck and need evacuation. Electrical cables can also cause electrocution, so don’t cross these or get out and try to move them without the correct insulated equipment. Treat all cables as live and potential hazards.
It’s wise to reduce your speed and avoid rushing to avoid obstacles. Leave yourself enough space and time to brake if you see something on the road ahead. If you must leave your lane to drive around an obstruction, you can honk your horn every few seconds to warn other drivers.
13. Practice Cautious Driving in Case of Smoke
Many motorists panic when smoke suddenly covers the road, but staying calm is key for driving through the smog. You should:
- Turn on your car’s headlights and hazard lights.
- Reposition the air conditioning to recirculate air.
- Keep the smoke out by closing windows.
- Slow down to allow increased reaction time.
- Tune into local radio stations for alerts.
- Keep a quiet, calm atmosphere in the car so you can concentrate on driving through poor visibility and be aware of obstacles and other vehicles on the road.
- Avoid using windshield fluid as this will mix with ash and soot, blocking your vision more. Use dry wipers to flick ash off the windshield when necessary.
- Avoid stopping — unless directed by emergency services — to reduce the likelihood of accidents.
- Stay in your car, as drivers may not see you if you are on foot. Cars also provide some protection from smoke and excessive heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do I Know It’s Safe to Travel to a Wildfire-Prone Area?
Check for active fire incidents using sources like InciWeb or the state’s fire agency channel. Review air quality index ratings, which may show that the area has high smoke. A high air quality rating can be a warning sign to evacuate or not enter the area.
What Should I Do If I Get Caught Near an Active Wildfire?
Stay calm and leave the area as soon as it’s safe. Follow official evacuation orders and stick to major roads. If you cannot evacuate, stay indoors, seal the doors and windows, and keep the air as clean as possible.
When Is Wildfire Season?
Generally, the summer months are most prone to wildfires, but many regions are at risk from May to November. In the Western U.S., it typically peaks in late summer and fall, while spring can still be risky in the Southeast.
Is Wildfire Season the Same Everywhere?
No, wildfire season varies per region. Check local forecasts and state agencies for region-specific timing and risk levels.
Can I Still Go Hiking or Camping During Wildfire Season?
Yes, but only in areas not under advisories or restrictions. Check local fire danger ratings, trail closures and weather forecasts before heading out. Bring extra water, avoid open flames and have a plan to quickly exit if conditions change. Always inform a ranger of your hiking plans so park services know where you are if they have to evacuate you.
What Kind of Mask Should I Wear for Wildfire Smoke?
Use an N95 or KN95 respirator that fits snugly to block fine particulate matter. Keep extra masks in your car or bag, especially if you’re heading to high-risk areas or places with limited supplies.
Safe Travels
Traveling during wildfire season requires extra awareness, but it’s doable with the right preparations, proactive planning and enough flexibility to adapt to changes. Prioritize safety and responsibility with your plans, and listen to local guidance.
Wildfire risks are real, but with the right tools and a solid plan, you don’t have to get caught off guard. Whether hiking, road-tripping or camping, safety should always come first. It’s better to miss a destination than compromise your health and safety.
An adventure can wait if it has to, but safety comes first.
