Wildfire smoke is a recurring threat across California. It can reduce air quality for days or weeks, even when the fire itself is dozens of miles away. Under SB 1248, local educational agencies must include poor air quality in their extreme weather protocols. Clear thresholds and response procedures protect students with asthma or other respiratory conditions and keep outdoor activities safe for everyone.
Wildfire smoke can travel hundreds of miles from its source, meaning schools may experience unhealthy air quality even when no fire is visible nearby. Children breathe faster than adults and take in more air relative to their body weight. Their lungs are still developing, which makes them more sensitive to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) found in wildfire smoke.
PM2.5 refers to microscopic airborne particles small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs, making them the primary health concern during wildfire smoke events. Prolonged exposure can trigger asthma attacks, reduce lung function, and increase emergency room visits.
Even healthy students can experience coughing, throat irritation, and reduced stamina during physical activity when air quality is poor. Because recess, physical education, and outdoor programs are daily parts of school life, districts need established procedures rather than improvised decisions each time smoke arrives.
SB 1248 requires every school district, county office of education, and charter school to develop a written protocol for extreme weather conditions. The California Department of Education’s standardized guidelines specifically call out air quality, including wildfire smoke, as a condition that may require modification or cessation of outdoor physical activities.
Protocols must incorporate clear criteria for when air quality becomes extreme enough to trigger action, procedures for monitoring conditions, indoor alternatives, staff training, communication plans, and recordkeeping. The law treats air quality with the same seriousness as extreme heat or flooding.
Most districts rely on the Air Quality Index (AQI) reported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and local air quality management districts. AQI categories range from Good (0–50) to Hazardous (301 and above).
Campus conditions can differ from the nearest official monitor, especially when smoke plumes shift with the wind. Smoke concentrations can vary considerably over short distances because of wind direction, terrain, nearby fires, and changing atmospheric conditions. Effective monitoring combines:
Timestamped records of AQI levels and the decisions made create the documentation required for annual protocol reviews.
Districts should adopt specific AQI thresholds that fit their local conditions and student population. The ranges below reflect common operational practices.
| AQI | Category | Operational Considerations |
| 0-50 | Good | Normal outdoor operations |
| 51-100 | Moderate | Monitor for sensitive groups |
| 101-150 | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | Consider modifying outdoor activities |
| 151-200 | Unhealthy | Move outdoor activities indoors |
| 201-300 | Very Unhealthy | Cancel outdoor activities |
| 301-500 | Hazardous | Keep students indoors whenever possible |
Common district practices include:
Identify indoor spaces that can accommodate physical activity or alternative programming in advance. Name the staff authorized to make the call and define how the decision is communicated to teachers, coaches, and families. Keep the rules simple enough that any site administrator can apply them consistently. Districts should establish these thresholds before wildfire season rather than making case-by-case decisions during an active smoke event.
Wildfire season in California often stretches from summer into fall and can begin earlier in dry years. Before the season starts:
Early preparation reduces last-minute confusion when smoke arrives.
Poor air quality from wildfire smoke is an explicit part of SB 1248 compliance. Districts that set clear AQI-based thresholds, monitor conditions reliably, define indoor alternatives, and train staff create safer campuses and stronger compliance documentation.
Review your current extreme weather protocol to ensure it includes clear air quality thresholds, response procedures, and communication plans. Consistent, practiced responses protect students when smoke fills the sky.
Need help adding reliable air-quality monitoring and automated alerts to your SB 1248 protocol? Contact Weatherstem for a 15-minute walkthrough of a compliant solution.
Does SB 1248 require California schools to address wildfire smoke and air quality? Yes. Education Code §33355 requires local educational agencies to include poor air quality, including wildfire smoke, in their written extreme weather protocols along with heat, precipitation, and flooding.
What AQI levels should trigger action under SB 1248? The law does not set specific numbers. Districts must adopt clear thresholds based on the Air Quality Index. Common practice is to modify activities at 101–150 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), move outdoors indoors at 151–200 (Unhealthy), and cancel outdoor activity at higher levels.
Why is campus-level air quality monitoring useful? Smoke concentrations can vary over short distances because of wind, terrain, and plume movement. Monitoring conditions where students are actually outdoors provides more relevant data for decisions and creates timestamped records for compliance.