Wildfire smoke can reach Kansas from in-state fires or distant events. In this blog, we’ll show how to check live smoke in your area, when to ease up outdoors, and simple steps to keep indoor air cleaner.
Check the AirNow Fire & Smoke Map in the morning and after wind shifts.
At AQI 101+, scale back outdoor exertion; higher-risk groups should stay inside more.
Indoors: close windows, set HVAC to recirculate, and use the highest MERV your system can handle (MERV 13 if airflow stays normal).
Go to the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map (fire.airnow.gov). Enter your city or ZIP code or move the map to your area. You’ll see:
Current AQI category
PM2.5 readings from monitors and sensors
Active fire points
Satellite smoke plumes
Kansas health advisories direct residents to this map because conditions can go from “moderate” to “unhealthy” in a single afternoon.
Check more than once. Light east or northeast flow has pushed Canadian smoke into Kansas and kept it in place for a day or two, and agencies warned AQI could change within hours.
Kansas can see smoke from in-state grass and range fires, but a lot of recent poor air days have come from long-distance transport. Canadian wildfire smoke has reached central and eastern Kansas, including Wichita, Topeka, and Kansas City, and pushed air into “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” and in some cases “Unhealthy.”
When that happens, state guidance has included:
Limit strenuous outdoor exercise
People with asthma or heart/lung problems should stay indoors more
Get medical attention if you feel short of breath, tight in the chest, or unusually tired
Image of Filterbuy 20x20x5 HVAC air filters in various MERV ratings lined up on a kitchen counter.
These are the core steps from EPA and state health guidance.
Close it up: Keep windows and doors closed. Don’t bring in outdoor air unless you must for safety or cooling. Run your HVAC on recirculate so you’re not pulling smoky air in.
Keep the fan running: Set the thermostat fan to “On,” not just “Auto,” so air keeps moving across the filter. This gives the filter more chances to grab smoke particles.
Use a higher-MERV filter: On normal days you may use MERV 8 or MERV 11. During smoke, move to MERV 13 or higher if the system can still keep normal airflow and comfort. Higher MERV filters catch more fine smoke particles. If rooms feel stuffy or airflow drops, go back to the lower MERV your system can handle.
Make one cleaner room: Pick a bedroom or main living area, keep that door closed, and run a HEPA air purifier sized for that room. EPA calls this a “clean room.”
DIY backup: No HEPA? You can tape a high-efficiency (MERV 13 or similar) filter to the intake side of a 20" box fan. Use a newer fan (2012 or later) with a safety mark. Replace the filter when it looks loaded.
When AQI is above 100, Kansas health officials tell people to ease up on strenuous outdoor work or exercise, and higher-risk groups (kids, older adults, anyone with asthma or heart/lung issues) are told to stay indoors more until air improves.
If you need to be outside in heavy smoke, use a well-fitting N95 or P100 respirator. These are made to protect your face and filter fine smoke particles. Cloth masks and loose surgical masks are not built for wildfire smoke.
In the car, keep windows closed and set A/C or climate control to recirculate so you’re not constantly pulling smoky air from outside into the cabin.
During smoky periods, don’t just wait for your usual change date. Pull the HVAC filter and look at it.
Replace early if:
The filter media looks dark or matted
Airflow from supply vents feels weak
You notice a trapped smoke odor
EPA notes filters load faster in wildfire smoke and may need to be swapped more often until outdoor air clears.
Do the same with a HEPA purifier or DIY box-fan filter. If the intake side is visibly coated, change it.
Filterbuy offers pleated HVAC and AC filters in MERV 8, MERV 11, and MERV 13. Filters are made in the USA, come in standard and custom sizes (including 1", 2", and 4" thicknesses), and ship fast with free U.S. shipping. Filterbuy also has Odor Eliminator (activated carbon) filters for smoke odor.
During smoke days in Kansas, use MERV 13 if your system can still move air normally and keep comfort the same. If not, stay with the highest MERV your system can handle and keep the fan running so air keeps passing through the filter.
Use the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map. Type in your city or ZIP code. It will show current air quality (AQI), smoke plumes, and nearby fire activity over Kansas.
Smoke can blow in from other states or even from Canada. Kansas has had bad air on days when the closest large fire was hundreds of miles away.
Start paying attention once AQI goes over 100. At that point, the air is not great for kids, older adults, or anyone with asthma, heart issues, or other breathing problems.
If AQI is high (100+), cut back long or intense outdoor activity. If the air looks hazy and you’re coughing, feeling tight in the chest, or getting short of breath, go inside and rest.
Keep windows and doors closed. Set your HVAC to recirculate so you aren’t pulling in outdoor air. Let the fan run so air keeps passing through the filter.
Use the highest MERV rating your system can handle without choking airflow. If your system can handle MERV 13 and still blow normally, use MERV 13 during smoky days.
Yes. Pick a bedroom or main living area, keep the door closed, and run a HEPA air purifier in that room. That gives you one space with better air.
You can make a simple DIY air cleaner by taping a high-MERV filter (like MERV 13) to the intake side of a box fan and running it on low/medium. Use a newer fan in good condition.
A well-fitting N95 or P100 helps because it seals to your face and filters fine smoke particles. Cloth masks and loose paper masks don’t do much against wildfire smoke.
Check it more often than normal. If the filter looks dark or clogged, airflow from the vents feels weak, or the house smells smoky, replace it. Don’t wait for the usual schedule.
