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I live in Los Angeles — here's what I wish I'd had on hand during the fires
Expert tips for staying prepared when the worst happens.
The past few years in Los Angeles have felt like a dream: winter rains, a weather cycle that resembled seasons and — at least for me — a false sense of security. Well, that’s gone now. Though my home remains untouched by the wildfires devastating our city, I live just a few miles from the Eaton Canyon blaze, and I’ve discovered the hard way that my family was woefully unprepared for such a disaster.
While the scale of the Eaton and Palisades fires is unprecedented, data shows that these kinds of blazes are becoming more common and more devastating. If the past week has taught me anything, it's that even if a wildfire is miles away, the smoke and ash can still majorly impact your health — and that impact can linger for weeks after a blaze is extinguished.
I reached out to Rima Habre, an associate professor of public health at the University of Southern California and the director of the USC CLIMA Climate and Health Center, to gain better insight into dealing with fire pollution. "My heart really is with the families affected by this tragedy. I understand they may have a lot of questions about how to prepare," Habre says.
Though she can't recommend specific products, Habre offers valuable guidance, emphasizing the importance of sealing up your home and cleaning the air inside. While informed by her expertise, the product recommendations that follow are my own.
Related: For more on how you can help, here is a list of verified organizations accepting donations to help wildfire victims.
1. Reinforce your windows.
First and foremost, Habre recommends staying indoors as much as possible and keeping your windows closed. While the air may look clear, the air quality index only tells half the story, as it doesn't typically measure lead, arsenic and asbestos, all of which Habre says are released when buildings and homes burn.
"There are some really nasty things out there," says Habre. "When we're dealing with smoke from wildfires, basically, you want to seal up your home and you want to clean the air inside the home. In older homes, if they are draftier, it's recommended that you tape those up." So, not only do you need to stay indoors, but you need to keep that air indoors as particulate-free as possible.
A winter insulation kit can make straightforward work of reinforcing your windows. A kit like this allows you to essentially seal off the windows so that you don't miss any cracks.
If you don’t want to go the full plastic-wrap covering but just want to reinforce some drafty areas, this weather seal is a good option. You can use this around windows and doors.
2. Clean your air.
This might go without saying: If you don't have an air purifier, you should consider buying one. Habre says she and others in her profession dislike the term "air purifier" and that it can sometimes lead folks astray. It's better to think of them as air cleaners, she says: "There's no way you can totally purify the air. ... You want something that's been recommended by a regulatory industry or the EPA." Habre shared the California Air Resource Board list of certified air-cleaning devices; these devices all include high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters.
Before buying any air cleaner, determine the size of the room or rooms where you'll use it and make sure the device is powerful enough to clean the air in that space. Habre also recommends that you double-check that the model doesn't produce harmful compounds like ozone.
I purchased this model during the COVID epidemic after conducting extensive research. Since then it has cranked through seasonal colds, flu, numerous COVID quarantines, annual fires and is still running like a champ. While I'm not an air quality expert, I like to lean into their recommendations; this device has consistently been on every regulatory list since at least 2020.
It covers 1,793 square feet, which basically covers my entire open floor plan. The brand claims it filters particles down to 0.1 microns — meaning it’s designed to trap smaller, more harmful pollutants like smoke. The smaller the particulate matter a filter captures, the better your protection. Even if you don’t pick this model, we recommend choosing a device with 0.1-micron cleaning capability.
Medify isn't the only brand recommended by the California Air Resource Board, but these are another option based on my personal experience. While our larger model could purify the whole house, I once read that closing your bedroom doors is a key home fire protection practice. Because of that, I like to have separate air cleaners in our bedrooms.
Like the Medify MA-40, I bought these back in 2020. These have been fighting the transmission of colds and COVID and — as far as I can tell — have kept our bedrooms smoke-free. Again, I'm not an air quality expert, but I can tell you is my seasonal allergies have been almost non-existent since I bought these.
I don't personally own this model, but it's on the California Air Resource Board list, and it is one of the very few options that the Los Angeles Unified School District has approved for classroom use — meaning it meets their strict air quality standards. It's made for rooms up to 1980 square feet and has an in-app air quality monitor, so you can keep tabs on how well it's working.
3. Get a better vacuum.
I was not prepared for this tip and, truthfully, I had no idea. Habre informed me that a subpar vacuum can suck up things like crumbs and cat hair but can spit allergens and ash right back into your home. And that ash can be toxic — even if you're sealing your windows and cranking your air filters, you could be carrying those harmful particulates into your house on your clothes and pets.
"In the fires we saw last week, there was a lot of ash raining down on us. ... Because these are buildings and manmade materials like TVs, electronics, paints and furniture, that ash contains a lot more toxic materials [than a forest fire]," Habre says. "You definitely don't want to bring that into your home. When you walk, you will kick it back up and bring it in." She recommends leaving shoes outside and making sure your vacuum is up to task.
I'm going to be honest: I don't own this yet, but I plan to buy it as soon as I file this story. My current vacuum is doing nothing to pick up the carcinogens I'm tracking into my home after my daily dog walk.
This vacuum has a HEPA filter, an airtight seal that the brand says locks in 99.99% of harmful particulates and allergens, and it boasts nearly 80,000 five-star reviews.
Our in-house vacuum expert recommends another Shark vacuum, also with a HEPA filter. Here's more on model's she tested to find the best upright vacuum.
4. Clean your drinking water.
You know that ash that's falling from the sky? It could be falling into your water source. And if it's ash from burned-out buildings and electronics, your drinking water could be contaminated with harmful chemicals. While Habre can't recommend a specific water filter, she notes that some popular brands don't perform as well as we might expect them to. She points us to research conducted by the Environmental Working Group on brands that have the most effective filtration systems to remove PFOA and PFOS chemicals.
ZeroWater filters have numerous certifications attesting to their efficacy when stripping drinking water of PFOA and PFOS chemicals, lead, chlorine, chromium, mercury and Class 1 particles.
This table-top model has a 5-stage filtration system and the glass storage vessel prevents your water from leaching micro-plastics between sips, making it a better choice than a plastic carafe or bottled water. I also like that it holds a pretty sizable amount, which is crucial if your water gets turned off in an emergency.
5. Get a good-quality, protective face mask.
Yup, they're back. If you've let your supply of N95 masks dwindle, it might be time to restock. Habre says to be absolutely sure you're buying a mask that's a good fit and has a tight seal around your nose and mouth. And, if you're near structure fires, in particular, the right protection matters. "Really, any mask is better than no mask, but we want folks to go for the right ones if they do try to get a mask," she says, adding that she recommends N95, P100 or P100+ options. An N95 is fine for your daily walks, but if you're doing any major cleanup, a P100 or P100+ may be better.
With so many false claims and counterfeit products online, be sure to do your due diligence when shopping for face coverings. Look for "NIOSH N95" printed on the mask with an approval number starting with "TC-84A" followed by four digits. Genuine N95s should have an expiration date, and the contents must be NIOSH-approved, not FDA-approved (masks claiming FDA approval are likely fake). A final telltale sign: If the straps pop off or the nose wire is flimsy, it's not a real N95.
3M is a well-regarded brand that produces highly-rated N95 masks. These are reliably effective with proper certification, and they have an adjustable nose and chin to ensure a snug fit.
Another reliable brand, but these come in a more comfortable shape for some faces. The bifold structure of these N95s can offer a more snug fit for smaller faces and because they point out a bit, they give more clearance for stronger profiles or for people who don't like their masks to touch their noses.
While not as well known as Honeywell and 3M, unlike both of those other brands, Aidway masks are made in the USA in California. Right now the brand is having a 65% off sale to support those affected by the Los Angeles fires.
Unfortunately, there are no N95 masks that are small enough for a kid's face. KN95 masks are essentially the same as N95s but the "K" stands for Korean, since that's where this design type first came to popularity. That said, the lack of regulations around KN95s also leaves loads of room for counterfeits.
I tested kids' KN95 masks for two years and this brand consistently ranked as one of my favorites for filtering out particles and for having a terrific, adjustable fit and selections in kid-friendly colors.
Developed by a mother and her "retired chief scientist with a PhD in filtration" father, Happy Masks are absolutely the best masks I've ever tried for the 2-to-7-year-old set. Their beak style gives a wonderfully snug fit to small faces without making them feel claustrophobic, and the washable and reusable design makes them particularly appealing. The one caveat is, since these are air-dry-only, you should be sure to buy two if you expect your child to wear a mask daily.
6. Get ready for no bathwater.
Droughts in Los Angeles are pretty commonplace, but — like wildfires — they're becoming equal-opportunity no matter where you live. A few hours into fighting the blaze, hydrants ran dry, which can happen when officials are fighting fires of this magnitude. Angelenos were asked to do their part and not tax the water systems, which meant skipping showers. You may never live with the perfect storm that we did, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared. You probably already have a favorite dry shampoo, face wipes and baby wipes on hand (if not, they're a good thing to have around), but these are a couple of things I hadn't thought of prior to the fires.
My mother-in-law gave me a pack of these at Christmas. What originally seemed like a fun novelty item to use on our next camping trip suddenly revealed itself as being an extremely practical emergency item to have on hand. Baby wipes are great, but these lather up with just a bit of water and then you only need to wipe dry with a towel. No need to rinse. They conserve loads of water while still helping you feel clean.
When you're going outside and coming home with ash on your skin, having something that can give you a minimal-water deep clean suddenly feels like a necessity.
I tend to be more lax about post-walk paw-cleaning than I should be, and up until now, our dog's weekly bath seemed like enough. Habre mentioned that our shoes can bring in all sorts of particulates — that goes double for Fido's paws and coat. And if I can't shower, my dog certainly can't either. Something like this is great to have around for a quick post-walk cleanup.
This brand is recommended by our vet and comes in unscented and fragranced. A single pack is $12 but if you add this to your pooch's monthly Chewy treat delivery, they're only $6.
