As smoke from Canadian wildfires continues to stream into western Washington, air quality has reached levels that range from Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) to VERY UNHEALTHY for communities in ORCAA’s six-county jurisdiction. Worse, National Weather Service meteorologists expect the smoke to linger through at least through Wednesday evening or Thursday mid-day. (see Washington Air Quality Advisory – WAQA – details here: https://ecology.wa.gov/Research-Data/Monitoring-assessment/Washington-Air-Quality-Advisory)
NOTE: Since the Grays Harbor Air Monitoring station remains off-line due to technical issues, residents there should refer to the Pacific County data.
The fine particulate matter pollution (PM2.5) comprising this smoke presents significant health risks to people. The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) recommends that people who are sensitive to air pollution limit time spent outdoors. Air pollution can trigger asthma attacks, cause difficulty breathing, and make lung and heart problems worse. Air pollution is especially harmful to children, people with heart and lung problems, and adults over age 65.
During these elevation pollution events, DOH recommends that people:
- Stay indoors when possible.
- Limit your physical activity outdoors. Avoid such aerobic activities as running, bicycling, strenuous physical labor, and organized field sports.
- Close windows in your home, if possible, and keep the indoor air clean. If you have an air conditioner, use the “recirculation” switch. Use an indoor air filter if available.
- If you do not have an air conditioner, consider finding a public place with clean, air-conditioned indoor air like a public library or a community center.
- Avoid driving when possible. If you must drive, keep the windows closed. If you use the car’s fan or air conditioning, make sure the system recirculates air from inside the car; don’t pull air from outside.
- Schools, camps, sports teams, and daycare providers should consider postponing outdoor activities or moving them indoors.
- N95 or N100 rated masks can help protect some people from air pollution. These masks are usually available at hardware and home repair stores. Please check with your doctor to see if this appropriate for you.
The Washington DOH offers detailed information on how residents can best deal with smoke impacts on their homes and communities. That information can be found here: https://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/AirQuality/SmokeFromFires.
ORCAA will continue to monitor the impacts from this smoke event and will report any changes that further threaten public health.
Washington’s complete network of Air Monitoring Stations — including those managed and maintained by ORCAA — can be found on the Department of Ecology’s website: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/
Additional information on wildfires and smoke from wildfires is available at https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/