7/24/1014 Air Quality Report

Air Quality conditions and forecast for Thursday  through Saturday this week are shown below.  Please remember that smoke plumes move around a lot and local conditions may be worse at times during the day or at night.  This forecast reflects 24 hour average conditions. 

7/23/2014 Use of a particle mask for protection from wildfire smoke

Chelan County Air Quality Advisory 7/23 2:00 pm

 

Smoke levels will vary throughout the day in some communities…

 

Wenatchee and Leavenworth “Moderate”

 

Chelan “Unhealthy for Sensitive Populations”

 

When air quality is in the moderate range most people will not be impacted. Some people with underlying conditions like asthma, lung diseases or heart disease, the very young or very old will experience health effects. Limit time outdoors and limit physical exertion to very short periods until air quality improves, if you are having health effects.

 

When air quality is in the unhealthy for sensitive populations range people with asthma, lung or heart disease and young children may experience health effects. Outdoor activities should be limited by this group. Limit time outdoors. If you are having significant problems talk to your health care provider. The general public is not likely to be affected.

 

More information about current air quality conditions and forest fires is located at:

Ecology:                                   https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/

Forest Service:                        http://inciweb.nwcg.gov

Chelan Douglas Public Health           www.cdhd.wa.gov

 

 

7/23/1014 Air Quality Report

Air Quality conditions and forecast for Tuesday through Thursday this week below.  Please remember that smoke plumes move around a lot and local conditions may be worse at times during the day or at night.  This forecast reflects 24 hour average conditions.

7/22/2014 Smoke and Pets

Smoke can affect pets too. The same smoke particles that cause problems for people may also cause problems for animals. Don't force your animals to run or work in smoky conditions. If your pet has heart or lung disease, follow the same  guidelines as for sensitive people.  Contact your local veterinarian with specific questions and concerns.  Or if needed, you can call Dr. Thomas Gilliom with the Washington State Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Division at 360-725-5655.

7/22/2014 Using Visibility to Estimate Air Quality Conditions

In Washington, we are fortunate that so much of our state is represented by air quality monitors although it would be impossible to have an instrument in every community or every area that may experience smoke impacts.  This post describes an alternative of using visibility to roughly estimate air quality.  (Remember that data from an actual monitor is always far more accurate.)

Our neighbors to the south (Oregon) make use of a simple method to estimate air quality conditions using visibility when you are not near a monitor (or if the nearest monitor is off line).  



Estimating visibility using the 5-3-1 Index

Determine the limit of your visual range by looking for distant targets or familiar landmarks such as mountains, mesas, hills, or buildings at known distances (miles). The visual range is that point at which these targets are no longer visible. Ideally, the viewing of any distance targets should be made with the sun behind you. Looking into the sun or at an angle increases the ability of sunlight to reflect off of the smoke, and thus making the visibility estimate less reliable. 

Once distance has been determined, follow this simple guide:

If over 15 miles:  The air quality is generally good.

Between 5-15 miles:  Air quality is moderate and beginning to deteriorate, and is generally healthy, except possibly for smoke sensitive persons. The general public should avoid prolonged exposure if conditions are smoky to the point where visibility is closer to the 5 mile range.

If under 5 miles:  The air quality is unhealthy for young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness. These people should minimize outdoor activity.

If under 3 miles:  The air quality is unhealthy for everyone. Young children, adults over age 65, pregnant women, and people with heart and/or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness should avoid all outdoor activities.

If under 1 mile:  The air quality is very unhealthy, and in some cases may be hazardous. Everyone should avoid all outdoor activities. 

Using the 5-3-1 Visibility Index
Distance you can see*	You are:			You have:
	An adult  A teenager  An older child	Age 65 and over  Pregnant  A young child	OR	Asthma  Respiratory illness  Lung or heart disease
5 miles	check visibility	minimize outdoor activity
3 miles	minimize outdoor activity	stay inside
1 mile	stay inside	stay inside
No matter how far you can see, if you feel like you are having health effects from smoke exposure, take extra care to stay inside or get to an area with better air quality.You should also see your doctor or other health professional as needed.
* less reliable under high humidity conditions

Source: Oregon Wildfire Response Protocol for Severe Smoke Episodes, version 2.0, June 3, 2014

Chelan County Air Quality

Air Quality Advisory Tuesday 1 pm

Smoke in some communities today…

Leavenworth “Unhealthy for Sensitive Populations”

Chelan “Moderate”

Wenatchee “Good”

When air quality is in the unhealthy for sensitive populations range people with asthma, lung or heart disease and children may experience health effects. Outdoor activities should be limited by this group. Everyone else should limit prolonged exertion. Limit time outdoors. If you are having significant problems talk to your health care provider

When air quality is in the moderate range some people with underlying conditions like asthma, lung diseases or heart disease, the very young or very old will experience health effects. Limit time outdoors and limit physical exertion to very short periods until air quality improves.

More information about current air quality conditions and forest fires is located at:

Ecology:           https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/

Forest Service:                        http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/  

Chelan Douglas Public Health             www.cdhd.wa.gov

7/22/2014 Air Quality Report

Air Quality conditions and forecast for Monday through Wednesday this week below.  Please remember that smoke plumes move around a lot and local conditions may be worse at times during the day or at night.  This forecast reflects 24 hour average conditions.

7/22/2014 Rain Coming?

There is rain in the forecast for areas around the fires.  This is good news overall for the firefighting efforts, although it may result in increased smoke concentrations in communities near the fires as the plumes lay closer to the ground.

7/21/2014 Washington Department of Health issued a relevant News Release on Friday.

News Release

For immediate release:                 July 18, 2014                            (14-102)
Contacts:                 Kelly Stowe, Communications Office              360-236-4022
                                  Marqise Allen, Communications Office          360-236-4072

Wildfires throughout Washington spark water and air quality concerns

OLYMPIA-- Wildfires now cover about 273,000 acres of land in Washington, and state health officials warn of potential health risks from heavy smoke and compromised water systems.
Several areas affected by the wildfires are experiencing electrical outages that may cause water systems to lose pressure and may allow harmful contaminants into water lines.

Residents who have lost water pressure should boil their tap water when service is restored. Guidance for customers of affected water systems can be found online.

In order to kill germs, water should be heated to a brisk boil for one minute and allowed to cool before use. The boil-water advisory remains in effect until tests show the water is again safe to drink. People uncertain as to whether their water is safe to drink should contact their water system.

It’s also important that people in wildfire areas pay close attention to current air quality information, which can be found on the Department of Ecology’s website. Breathing smoke from wildfires can make anyone cough or wheeze, and people who have asthma or another lung disease may experience more severe symptoms. As pollutant particles build up in the respiratory system, they can cause several health problems including burning eyes, runny noses, and illnesses such as bronchitis.

The particles can also aggravate heart conditions and lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, emphysema, and asthma. Children and older adults are also at higher risk for health effects from air pollution. Pregnant women and people with diabetes should also limit their exposure to smoke.

During a smoke-related incident, it’s recommended that you avoid physical activity and stay indoors with windows and doors closed. Turn on your air conditioner and keep the fresh-air intake closed and set the unit to recirculate. Use a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) to reduce indoor air pollution if one is available to you. The Washington Tracking Network has more detailed information on air pollution.

When smoke levels are high, even healthy people can have symptoms or health problems. Contact your health care provider when you have specific health concerns and dial 911 for emergency assistance if symptoms are serious.

Leave the area if instructed to do so by emergency personnel. You may consider leaving the area if it’s too warm to be inside without open doors and windows and you don’t have air conditioning.
The Department of Health website (doh.wa.gov) is your source for a healthy dose of information. Also, find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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