Washington Smoke Information

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

Wildfire Smoke Health Impacts

Wildfire smoke associated with more ER visits for heart, stroke ailments among seniors.
Journal of the American Heart Association Report

Check out latest Journal of American Heart Association Report

Study Highlight:

Exposure to smoke from wildfires was associated with increased rates of emergency room visits for heart- and stroke-related illness, especially among adults age 65 and older.

Wildfire smoke contains many pollutants including ozone, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter which is linked to cardiovascular risk. People with underlying cardiovascular disease risk factors may be at risk for an acute heart, brain or blood vessel event when exposed to wildfire smoke.

Friday, September 29, 2017

9/29/2017 Seeing smoke?

Fall Prescribed Burning

This is the time of year when land managers and firefighters have a chance to safely use fire in a controlled manner to reduce fuel loads in the forest. Prescribed burning can benefit ecosystems, improve wildlife habitat, and lessen the chance of future uncontrollable wildfires and severe smoke episodes. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulates forestry burning in Washington and always attempts to keep smoke from impacting the public to any great extent. You can find out if there's an approved forestry burn near you by visiting this page:
https://fortress.wa.gov/dnr/protection/burnrequests/

Also, for those of you on near or downwind of the east slopes of the Cascades, the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest maintains a nice interactive map that displays their planned and active burns at the link below. Note that you can zoom way in to see the perimeters of planned burns.