Download an air quality app, stock up on respirators and stay inside if you can.
Australia's 2019/20 summer bushfires resulted in more than 400 estimated deaths and thousands of hospitalisations from smoke exposure.
If you have COVID, though, wearing a respirator with a valve does not reduce the risk of you infecting others, because the air you breathe out through the valve is unfiltered and contaminated.
Staying out of the smoke is also important, particularly if you have asthma, emphysema and other lung disease.
Young people may be less aware of the health effects of smoke exposure, and even people without lung disease can experience ill health due to smoke.
You may be eligible to be part of our study into the best way to protect yourself from bushfire smoke.
The P2 masks that were bought during covid are sufficient for smoke. FFP2 has the exhalation valve (not covid recommended) and is more comfortable to wear.
As a vol FF, FFP2 is the bare minimum for a structure, car or bushfire.