Wildfire smoke season is upon us.
Late Monday afternoon, smoke from eastern Washington wildfires began to settle into the Puget Sound lowlands and continued to push west, especially around the south side of the Olympic Mountains.
A National Weather Service (NWS) air quality alert was issued Monday for several counties, including Thurston County. That alert has now been expanded to include Mason and Grays Harbor Counties, and pushed out to run through 5 p.m. Thursday, August 6.
Light west winds should develop through Thursday, likely clearing the ground-level smoke by late Thursday.
Limit Exposure to smoky air — Who’s most at risk?
When smoke levels reach the “unhealthy for sensitive groups (USG)” category, people with heart or lung diseases, pregnant women, people over 65, and babies and children should limit time outdoors and keep indoor air clean. If air quality worsens and smoke levels reach “unhealthy,” “very unhealthy,” or “hazardous” categories, everyone should limit their time outdoors, avoid exercise outdoors, and take steps to keep indoor air clean. Check outdoor air quality for your area on the ORCAA air monitoring page, or on the Department of Ecology interactive map page.
Keep indoor air clean
Close windows and doors, but be mindful of the heat and stay hydrated to avoid other health problems. Use fans indoors, and if you have an air conditioner, set it to recirculate. Use a HEPA air cleaner. Don’t add to indoor air pollution; avoid using candles, and don’t smoke or vacuum while it’s smoky outside. For proven strategies for helping improve indoor conditions during smoke events, see our page on Wildfire Smoke.
Monitor the quality of your air
People in the USG category are at higher risk of problems from breathing smoke. It’s especially important for these people and those who care for them to pay attention to air quality and take steps to reduce their exposure to smoke. During wildfire smoke episodes, check the DNR Burn Portal and the Washington Smoke Blog.
For more information on how to stay healthy this wildfire season, visit the Washington State Department of Health Smoke from Fires website.