The Bolt Fire continues to burn along the Highway 2 corridor west of Stevens Pass and smoke from that fire could impact Thurston County and areas along Hood Canal later today and into the weekend. North winds today are pushing some of the lowland smoke south along Puget Sound, so parts of Thurston and Mason Counties may see pockets of surface-level smoke at times.
The National Weather Service forecasts a shift in winds to an onshore, westerly flow, by Thursday, however, so any pockets of surface smoke should clear out quickly. If those westerly winds remain through the weekend, local air quality should remain good, but if the north winds return, there could be areas of ORCAA’s jurisdiction impacted by smoke once more.
ORCAA staff will monitor the situation continually and report updated news as it develops. But residents can also keep an eye on ORCAA’s air monitoring network and plan their activities on those real-time readings. Should local air quality monitors show elevated PM pollution levels, anyone with breathing difficulties or existing cardiovascular issues should stay indoors when possible and take additional precautions as warranted. Anyone experiencing breathing difficulties should consult with their health care providers.
ORCAA’s air quality monitoring network can be viewed here: https://www.www.orcaa.org/air-quality/current-air-quality/
To address concerns about the health impacts of wildfire smoke, and how best to cope with these events in a healthful manner, visit the Washington Department of Health website at: https://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/AirQuality/SmokeFromFires
For more information on wildfire smoke origins and movement, visit https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/
