In recent weeks, many camps across the country are facing two hazards at once: storms and wildfire smoke. In the eastern and central U.S., smoke has been drifting down from wildfires burning in Canada. Meanwhile, camps in the Pacific Northwest are dealing with smoke much closer to home: dozens of large, uncontained wildfires are burning across Oregon and Washington, including a destructive fire complex near Spokane, and large fires in central and eastern Oregon that have burned well over a million acres combined. Smoke from these PNW fires has been reaching Portland, Seattle, and cities as far away as Boise and Salt Lake City, and has at times pushed 1,000+ miles east into the Plains. Our latest article covers lightning safety, AQI decision-making, and daily habits to keep your campers safe.
1. Thunderstorms and Lightning
Lightning is the more immediate, acute danger of the two — it can strike with little warning, even from a storm that looks far away.
The core rule: “When thunder roars, go indoors.” If you can hear thunder, you’re close enough to be struck. Treat sound — not sight — as your trigger to act.
What to do:
- Move indoors immediately — into a substantial building or hard-topped vehicle. Picnic shelters, tents, and open-sided pavilions do not protect against lightning.
- Clear the water immediately — stop pool, lake, and waterfront activities at the first rumble of thunder.
- Wait it out — stay inside for at least 30 minutes after the last thunderclap (the NWS standard). Most lightning injuries happen when people go back out too soon.
- Designate a daily “storm captain” — their only job is watching sky and radar, so activity leaders can focus on supervising campers.
- Have a headcount and communication plan — so staff can move campers indoors quickly from the waterfront, trails, or far-flung activity areas.
- Avoid tall isolated trees, open fields, metal fences, and equipment during a storm.
If lightning strikes someone:
- Call 911 immediately.
- It’s safe to touch them — they don’t retain an electrical charge (this is a myth).
- Begin CPR if unresponsive and not breathing normally; continue until help arrives.
2. Wildfire Smoke and Air Quality
Unlike a storm, smoke doesn’t require sheltering in place — it requires adjusting how much time kids spend breathing hard outdoors.
Where the smoke is coming from this week:
| Region | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern / central U.S. | Canadian wildfires | Smoke carried south by upper-level winds |
| Pacific Northwest & interior West | Regional wildfires (WA, OR, ID, MT, UT) | AQI can swing sharply within a day as smoke mixes to ground level or lifts |
Why kids face more risk than adults:
- They breathe faster relative to body size, taking in proportionally more polluted air
- Their lungs are still developing
- They often exercise harder and longer outdoors, pulling smoke deeper into the lungs
Daily check: Look up the Air Quality Index (AQI) for your zip code before the day starts and again at midday, using AirNow.gov.
AQI Decision Framework
| AQI | Category | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| 0–50 | Good | Plan normal outdoor activity |
| 51–100 | Moderate | Proceed normally; watch sensitive campers (asthma, lung/heart conditions) for symptoms |
| 101–150 | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | Keep vigorous outdoor activity under an hour; move sensitive campers indoors or away from strenuous activity |
| 151–200 | Unhealthy | Move strenuous/long activities indoors for everyone; keep any outdoor time short and low-intensity |
| 201–300 | Very Unhealthy | Move all outdoor activities indoors |
| 300+ | Hazardous | Move all activities indoors; consider changing the day’s programming entirely |
Practical adjustments:
- Swap hiking, sports, and swim relays for indoor games, crafts, and quiet activities
- If outdoor time is unavoidable, shorten it and lower the intensity (e.g., a nature walk instead of capture the flag)
- Keep windows closed indoors; run AC or air filtration if available
- Watch for symptoms: coughing, wheezing, unusual fatigue, itchy/watery eyes, chest tightness, shortness of breath
- Make sure campers with asthma keep their quick-relief inhaler accessible
- Check in specifically with any camper who has a known respiratory or heart condition — kids often don’t realize a feeling is smoke-related
- Properly fitted N95/KN95 masks can help older kids and staff when outdoor time is unavoidable — but masks don’t replace reducing time outside, and aren’t recommended for very young children
- If you’re in or near an active fire area: have an evacuation plan on hand, not just a smoke plan. Know your camp’s evacuation zone status and have a way to get real-time updates from local emergency management — fire conditions can change faster than smoke conditions.
Heat + smoke combo: Several regions dealing with smoke this week — including parts of the Pacific Northwest — are also under heat advisories. These hazards compound: kids need both shade/AC and clean air, and hydration matters even more since heavy breathing outdoors increases smoke exposure. When possible, treat a hot, smoky day as a good reason to move indoors.
3. Daily Habits That Make Both Easier
- Check every morning: local NWS forecast/radar for storm timing, and AQI for your zip code
- Build a flexible indoor backup plan for every outdoor activity block, so shifting inside doesn’t feel like scrambling
- Communicate proactively with parents — a short daily note about weather-related schedule changes builds trust and heads off worried calls
- Trust your instincts — if the sky looks wrong, the air smells like smoke, or thunder sounds close, act early. Kids take their cues from calm, decisive adults — move the day indoors matter-of-factly, without alarming them
Sources
- NYC Dept. of Health: Air Quality Guidelines for Children (Child Care, Schools, Camps)
- Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services: Outdoor Activity Recommendations for Unhealthy AQI Levels
- Washington State Dept. of Health: Children and Youth Activities Guide for Air Quality
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles: How to Protect Kids From Bad Air Quality During Fires
- Minnesota Dept. of Health: Outdoor Air Quality Guidance for Schools and Child Care
- AP News (via theGrio), July 2023: Summer camp kids retreat indoors as wildfire smoke affects air quality
- National Weather Service: Lightning Safety
- AirNow.gov: Check current AQI by zip code
- Washington Post, Aug. 2026: Wildfire smoke and air quality impacts across the West, including the Spokane-area fire disaster
- CNN, Aug. 2026: PNW and Western Canada wildfire conditions and evacuations
- NOAA NESDIS / NASA SVS: Satellite imagery of Pacific Northwest wildfire smoke, July–August 2026
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