WILDFIRE SAFETY: TRAVELING THE WEST DURING FIRE SEASON
Created by: Chris Cox
When Wildfire Season Became Real for Us
Growing up on the East Coast, our “storm prep” meant something completely different. We stocked hurricane kits, boarded up windows, and knew exactly where to go if a tornado warning popped up on the TV. or low pressure front formed in the Atlantic. Wildfire safety? That was the stuff of dramatic news footage from far-off states like California or Oregon—not something we ever thought we’d need to worry about.
That all changed this year when we took our RV west.
We knew wildfire season was “a thing” here, but we pictured it the same way most East Coasters imagine hurricanes if they’ve never been through one—something that happens, but not something that would happen to us. We were wrong.
Table of Contents
The First Signs of Trouble
It was a mild central Oregon morning when we noticed the light looked… different. It wasn’t the golden sunshine we’d been enjoying all week—it was a hazy, almost burnt-orange color that made everything look sort of cinematic, but in a way that also made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
Then came the smell—subtle at first, like a neighbor’s campfire drifting across the campground. Except we didn’t have any neighbors with a campfire.
We pulled out our phones and quickly discovered the cause: a wildfire had sparked about 60 miles away, and the wind was pushing the smoke right toward us.
Back home, we would’ve turned on the Weather Channel, checked hurricane spaghetti models, and started talking about categories with potential evacuation depending on the storm’s path. Here, we were suddenly learning about fire perimeter maps, wind-driven spread potential, and containment percentages. It was a crash course in a type of natural disaster we’d never dealt with before.
Best Apps and Tools for RV Wildfire Safety
Information is your lifeline during wildfire season. Out west, conditions can change in a matter of hours. Here’s what kept us ahead of the game:
Watch Duty (Android - iOS) – Real-time wildfire tracking app with verified updates, scanner feeds, and live dispatch calls.
AirNow (Android - iOS) – Monitors air quality so you know when to limit outdoor activities.
Windy (Android - iOS) – Tracks wind speed and direction to predict smoke movement.
Local Emergency Alerts – Sign up with each county you visit for evacuation and closure updates. You can also enable Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on your phone. For many phones, this can be updated by navigating to: SETTINGS > SAFETY & EMERGENCY > WIRELESS EMERGENCY ALERTS.
Google Maps – For live road closure alerts when fires impact highways.
Pro Tip: Make checking these apps part of your morning routine, just like checking the weather or drinking coffee.
The Importance of Air Quality Awareness
Before this trip, I didn’t think much about air quality beyond the occasional pollen alert back home. Out west during wildfire season, air quality can swing from “safe” to “hazardous” in a matter of hours.
On one particularly smoky day, AirNow showed our AQI (Air Quality Index) had jumped from 45 to over 200 by lunchtime. That’s “unhealthy” even for healthy adults—and downright dangerous for kids. The difference was visible too—mountains that had been crystal clear the day before were now just hazy outlines in the distance, and the smell of smoke seeped into everything. Even stepping outside for a minute left our throats scratchy.
That day became an impromptu homeschool lesson in environmental science. We explained to the girls why we needed to stay inside, how to check AQI levels, and why our portable air purifier was suddenly their new best friend.
Adjusting Travel Plans on The Fly
Wildfire season forced us to become even more flexible than we already are as full-time RVers. There were days we had to:
Consider leaving a location early because of the conditions, either smoke or fire proximity.
Re-route to avoid active fire areas.
Stay indoors for a full day with the air purifier running.
Scrap a scenic drive because the visibility was down to almost nothing.
It reminded us a lot of hurricane season in that you:
Stay informed
Stay ready
Stay flexible
What We Learned as East Coasters
Our lack of wildfire experience didn’t mean we were starting from zero. Years of prepping for hurricanes and tornadoes gave us a preparedness mindset that translated surprisingly well:
Pack a “Go Bag” – Documents, chargers, water, snacks, first aid, and essential meds.
Carry N95 masks – For smoky days with poor air quality. This is especially important if anyone in your party has respiratory issues.
Have two exit routes – Roads can close quickly in fire zones.
Check before booking – Call campgrounds during fire season to ask about nearby activity. Then check again, conditions change fast and frequent!
Essential RV Wildfire Safety Gear
(Affiliate links, because sharing is caring and it also helps us out with our travels!)
Portable Air Purifier – Keeps indoor air breathable during smoke days.
N95 Masks – Protects your lungs when air quality drops.
Emergency Go-Bag Backpack – Pre-packed with essentials for fast evacuation.
Emergency Radio – Portable emergency radio with multiple charging options.
Final Thoughts
The biggest takeaway? Wildfire season is unpredictable, but not unmanageable. The right apps, a flexible travel mindset, and some basic gear can make the difference between being caught off guard and staying ahead of the situation.
We also learned the importance of talking openly with our kids about these events. Instead of making it scary, we framed it as part of the adventure—just another type of challenge we can overcome together.
Even though wildfire season changed how we travel. We left with a deep respect for the people who face this danger every summer and a renewed commitment to being prepared for any natural disaster.
If you’re RVing the West during fire season, consider downloading the apps we mentioned and add the safety gear to your packing list. Better to have and not need, than need and not have…
Join Our Journey 🚐
To receive additional travel tips and information about life on the road from 4C’s in an RV, subscribe below!
