Wildfire Smoke & COVID-19: A Bad Combination for Health

The active wildfires in our state present many dangers, including the impact wildfire smoke has on our health. The smoke produced by wildfires can also be dangerous to you and your family, even when you don’t live near the wildfire.   

Breathing in wildfire smoke can cause symptoms that are relatively minor, such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, and also more dangerous symptoms like as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. We are especially concerned this year with COVID-19 because both impact our respiratory and immune systems and some of the symptoms are the same, like coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. If you have COVID-19, breathing in smoke may make your symptoms worse. Smoke can make you more susceptible to respiratory infections, like COVID-19. Some people most vulnerable to wildfire smoke, like those over 65 or with pre-existing conditions, are also those most at risk for serious impacts from COVID-19.

There were already limited ways to protect ourselves from wildfire smoke, and COVID-19 makes it even more challenging.

Here are steps you can take now to protect your health: 

• Stay informed about current and forecasted air quality here on the blog and your local clean air agency’s website.
• Reduce outdoor physical activity
• Stay indoors when it’s smoky and keep indoor air clean
• Close your windows and doors to reduce intake of smoke. However, ventilation is good for helping prevent COVID-19, so when air quality is good, open them to get fresh air and reduce potential viral load.
• Improve filtration of indoor air in your home and create a clean air room where you spend most of your time. Making your own box fan filter can be a less expensive option to filter air and improve indoor air quality in a single room.  Filtering indoor air is an effective way to reduce fine particles from wildfire smoke. It can also provide some protection from COVID-19, but this alone is not enough to protect you from COVID-19.
• Avoid burning candles or incense, smoking inside, frying or broiling, or vacuuming (unless your vacuum has a HEPA filter).
• Wear your cloth face covering to slow the spread of COVID-19. While cloth face coverings may help a small amount with smoke, they won’t filter out the fine particles or hazardous gasses.
• N95 respirators, if fitted and worn properly, can reduce exposure to wildfire smoke, but as the supply remains limited, these need to be reserved for workers that are required to wear them for their job.

For more information visit the WA DOH Smoke from Fires webpage.

"Super Massive" smoke plume hovering menacingly over southwest WA, biding its time

The "super massive" pall of smoke referenced in the earlier blog post this morning has only moved a little. Air quality in the Vancouver, WA area has begun deteriorating while the rest of southwest WA is "enjoying" mostly Moderate air quality and a little relief from the heat as the smoke filters out the sunshine. 

We have been responding to queries from many concerned citizens, about expected air quality in different areas and impacts on outdoor activities, and are being overwhelmed with requests for personalized forecasts. We'll do what we can, but here's a map of what Friday will bring. Saturday will be worse for most areas, with few clean air getaways possible. "Clean air" will become a relative term for most of this weekend. More details on that tomorrow. 

You can see the latest forecast here. It will be updated daily. This is to be used as a general guideline only, not for dissecting with surgical precision the differences in air quality on one street and the next. 

Smoke Alert!

There is a super-massive body of smoke moving over Southwestern Washington.  This smoke from Oregon and California is expected to impact Western Washington, the Columbia Basin, and even Spokane as it moves overhead.  Not much smoke has mixed down to the surface yet, but smoke forecasts show Unhealthy or worse levels starting tonight on the Peninsula and then through the I-5 Corridor. The Columbia River Gorge region is expected to be Unhealthy or worse tomorrow morning.  Smoke continues to be a problem in Central Washington and in the north Cascades as well because of our own fires.  Look for a more detailed forecast this afternoon.

    GOES Image (Sept 10, 9 am)

 

EPA Map of Air Quality, Smoke, and Fire Locations (Sept 10, 9 am)

Statewide Smoke Update

Poor air quality has persisted for many Washington residents today as fires continue to produce significant smoke across the region.   The EPA Fire and Smoke Map (shown below) paints a stark picture of air quality and smoke in the region, with smoke impacts being felt over most of the state. Air quality is Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups across most of the state, with Unhealthy or worse conditions in parts of Central Washington. See the Dept. of Ecology Smoke Forecast Map for predictions of air quality in your specific region for today and tomorrow.  See the Health Information section of this blog for tips on masks and how to keep the air in your home clean.

                          Air Quality, Smoke, and Fires from EPA - Sept 9, 2020 (10 am PDT) 

Fire perimeters expanded and threatened several communities yesterday. The Cold Springs (Central WA), Pearl Hill (Central WA), Lionshead (OR) and Beachie Creek (OR) fires experienced large growth. Multiple fire fighting teams were assigned to new incidents.  The Big Hollow fire in Skamania county also exhibited extreme fire behavior.  The Northwest Interagency Coordination Center has more detailed information on large fire activity.

Critical fire weather conditions will persist in Western Washington today and tomorrow. The breezy east winds have eased some but it will be hot and dry. Fires will remain active and could grow rapidly. Expect winds to transition to a more typical onshore flow on Friday which will help to slow the fire activity down.  Smoke is impacting the region from multiple locations.  Air quality is expected to continue as-is and get worse Thursday night into Friday, especially in Southwest Washington and the Olympic Peninsula, as smoke from Oregon and California is expected to creep north. See the widespread thick smoke over the Pacific in today's GOES Imagery (shown below).

Central and Eastern Washington will experience warm/dry weather with less winds today and tomorrow. Smoke from fires will continue to heavily impact the Okanogan and Methow Valleys, the East Slopes of the Cascades, and portions of Ferry county. Patchy smoke will also be prevalent around the Columbia Basin and the Spokane area.  Air quality will remain poor as light winds will allow smoke to build near the ongoing fires. However, light winds will be beneficial for fire fighting efforts and we hope there could be reduced fire growth in the region. 

                         GOES Image for Sept 9, 2020 (10 am PDT) 

Statewide Smoke Update

The frontal system and high winds that screamed through Washington yesterday caught hold of many seemingly human-caused ignitions starts.  It was a historically tragic day of significant fire growth that lead to multiple evacuations, homes and businesses lost, dust storms, traffic accidents, roads closed, and thick smoky air across large parts of the state.   Fires in Central WA made large runs, traveling many miles, with more land burned than what we normally see in an entire year.

Heavy smoke is still being generated from the Inchelium and Cold Springs / Pearl Hill fires.  Communities in Okanogan and bordering counties (Chelan, Ferry, Douglas) are going to continue to see fire and smoke for the foreseeable future.  As winds push through the Columbia Basin, some of that smoke will also travel southwest and intermittently send smoke to Central WA.

A lot of the smoke in Western and Central WA cleared out this morning, but calmer winds in the the northern half of Washington haven't allowed the air to clear.  There is still Moderate to Unhealthy air being monitored from Tacoma to Bellingham and out to the peninsula.  Smoke can be seen in many mountain valleys and this could stick around for the day, sloshing around the greater Puget Sound region and likely heading south back towards Tacoma/Olympia.  There are also many new fires being detected today in Western Washington.  This NWCG link shows fire detects over the past day and new emerging fire locations. 

Map of Air Quality and Smoke from Fires (Sept 8, 2020 @ 1 pm)

Today's animated GOES imagery shows new fire activity in Skamania county from the Big Hollow fire (over 6,000 acres), which is sending a thick smoke plume across SouthWest Washington and NW Oregon.  This fire will likely continue to send smoke west today and tomorrow and could travel north to Olympia/Tacoma along with Oregon smoke on Thursday. Oregon has some very large fires, with the Lionshead and Beachie Creek pouring thick smoke into the air.  SouthWestern Washington should expect smoke impacts from Oregon starting Thursday.

GOES Image of Smoke from Fires (Sept 8, 2020 @ 1 pm)

Many people are wondering where to go to escape the smoke, but conditions are dynamic and changing quickly, so most communities should be prepared to stay indoors.  There are several things you can do to keep your home's air quality smoke free, discussed on the Health Information page of this blog.

Western Washington is under a Red Flag Warning for high winds and fire danger!  Please do your part to keep fire off the ground!  RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THURSDAY FOR GUSTY WINDS AND LOW HUMIDITY, AS WELL AS HOT, DRY, AND UNSTABLE CONDITIONS FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES.

Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke

Wildfire smoke can be unhealthy to breathe, especially for vulnerable people such as those with existing heart or lung disease, children, older adults, and pregnant women. Always pay attention to how the smoke is making you feel and check with your doctor right away for help managing symptoms or any specific concerns.

No Cost Ways to Lower Smoke Exposure

1.       Know your air quality. Smoke levels can change a lot during the day so watch for periods of cleaner air to run errands, exercise, or do outdoor chores. Look for opportunities to open windows and doors to let cleaner air into your home if smoke clears.

·         Go online to track fires and smoke here: https://fire.airnow.gov/

·         Have a smartphone? Download the Smoke Sense App. https://www.epa.gov/air-research/smoke-sense-study-citizen-science-project-using-mobile-app

·         Learn the colors of the AQI (air quality index) and what they mean for actions you can take to protect your health. See the AQI table below.

2.       Stay inside with doors and windows closed when it’s smoky. Use towels to block air flow if smoke is coming in through gaps in window or door frames. But don’t overheat! Open doors and windows if you must to cool down. Watch for times when smoke may clear and open windows and doors to clear out smoke that has gotten inside.

3.       Reduce indoor pollution you can control. Reduce or eliminate any type of smoking, no vacuuming, no candles, no incense, no aerosol sprays. Reduce or eliminate use of gas, propane, or woodburning stoves for heat. Do not fry or broil meat.

4.       Take it easy. Smoky air is not good for vigorous activities. Put off chopping wood, mowing the lawn, or going for a run. Try to keep children and pets quiet too.

5.       Set air to recirculate on your HVAC or window air conditioner if you have one.

6.       Reduce smoke in your vehicle if you’re out in your car by closing the windows and vents and running the air conditioner on recirculate.

Low to Medium Cost Ways to Lower Smoke Exposure

1.       Leave the smoky area for a few hours or a few days if you cannot keep the air in your home clean or cool. Check the AirNow forecast page for your area to see if there is somewhere you can go to get a break from the smoke. www.airnow.gov

2.       Upgrade your HVAC filters. If you have an HVAC system, upgrade the filters to a “MERV 13” or higher and run the system on recirculate. Filters will need to be changed more often when it’s smoky. Consult the manufacturer’s instructions or an HVAC system specialist.

3.       Buy a HEPA portable air cleaner. For about $100-$300 you can purchase a HEPA portable air cleaner and use it to clean the air in a room in your home (often a bedroom). See more information here including some recommendations on specific cleaners to buy: https://www.montanawildfiresmoke.org/hepa-filters.html

4.       Build a simple box fan filter. For about $40-$50 you can build an air filter by attaching a 20”x20” furnace filter to a 20” box fan (don’t run this unattended or at night). See instructions here: https://www.montanawildfiresmoke.org/diy-fan-filter.html

Labor Day Update - Cold Springs Fire erupts while Evans Canyon Fire calms down.

A fire just south of Omak erupted yesterday and is still growing. There is extreme fire behavior. Large scale evacuations are underway and communities are threatened.  There are conflicting reports on fire size, with some saying 9,000 acres with other estimates much larger (over 65,000 acres), but active fire locations appear to show a very large area burned (map below).  The fire was initially being called the “Cold Springs Fire” and the “Road 28 Fire.” Douglas County officials say it’s officially been renamed the “Cold Springs Canyon Fire/Pearl Hill Fire.”  Today's GOES animated imagery shows a big plume traveling south this morning.  Winds should eventually bring smoke transport full circle today and tomorrow, affecting Central WA.  Smoke models don't have a good representation of this fire but degraded air quality is Moderate across many parts of Central Washington this morning, with Very Unhealthy air being monitored in Sunnyside.  Smoke may head west and affect elevated locations today (Twisp?), but winds should die down tomorrow, and smoke could pool in Central WA.  Expect updates tomorrow on this blog.

            Fire Detects for Cold Springs Canyon Fire

In other news, the Evans Canyon fire exhibited little growth yesterday, with only a few thousand acres burned (76,000 acres burned over the event). That fire is at 60% containment with minimal fire behavior.

Labor Day Weekend Outlook

Some smoke from California that came in off the coast has been traveling over our state today, but hasn't been a concern for surface air quality.  The big story has been the Evans Canyon fire, which has burned 70,000 acres and is being fought by every resource available.  Dozers, hand crews and engine crews are working hard on perimeter control and constructing lines to stop fire spread from reaching valley communities.  Smoke has been causing Moderate to Unhealthy air in communities around Yakima and will continue to do so.  Washington State Department of Ecology issued an Air Quality Alert for the region through the long weekend.

                Evans Canyon Fire Active Fire Locations (Sept 4 Terra MODIS Image)

When the air quality deteriorates, it's important to take actions to protect your health, especially with the overlap of COVID-19. Breathing in smoke may worsen symptoms for those with COVID-19 or make your more likely to get a respiratory infection, like COVID-19. For more information visit the health tab or the WA Dept of Health Smoke from Fires website.

Smoke from the P-515 and Lionshead fires in Oregon can be seen traveling towards Klickitat county in today's GOES imagery.  Smoke from these fires could cause Moderate conditions along the Columbia river through tomorrow and potentially impact Benton and Walla Walla counties with some short-lived smoke.

A strong cold front is forecast to push through the region on Monday resulting in much cooler temperatures and strong north to northeast winds across the Columbia Basin. Another warming trend will begin by midweek and could continue through next weekend. 

This weekend is critical for limiting new fire starts.  Many people will be hiking and camping in wildlands and burn bans must be observed.  High winds and hot temperatures will cause fires to grow quickly.  Please do your part to keep fires from starting.

Evans Canyon Fire Update

The Evans Canyon fire is sending smoke into areas of south central Washington around Yakima. The fire is listed as 69,925 acres and 10% contained this morning (Friday, 9/4). More information on the fire can be found at Inciweb here: https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7132/  or the Facebook page for the Southeast Washington Incident Management Team here: https://www.facebook.com/sewaimt/. Yakima Valley Valley Emergency Management is another source for information including evacuations and closures: https://www.facebook.com/YakimaCountyOEM/.  See note below the map for information about a virtual community meeting tonight at 5pm.  

Check back here later today for an update on expected air quality conditions.

Evans Canyon Virtual Community Meeting Today, 
September 4 at 5 PM

Evans Canyon Wildfire
Announcements – 1:49 hrs. ago

There will be a Virtual Community Meeting on the Evans Canyon Fire hosted via Facebook 
Live on the Southeast Washington Interagency Management Team Facebook page 
at https://www.facebook.com/sewaimt/ at 5 PM today, September 4.

The Evans Canyon Fire is currently burning approximately 8 miles north of Naches.  
Fire information from members of the Type 2 Incident Management Team will be shared, 
including weather, fire behavior, and operations. 

The meeting content will be available, both live and recorded, the Facebook page 
without logging onto Facebook or having a Facebook account. The Virtual Community 
Meeting will also be recorded and will be available on the Facebook page after the live 
meeting.

Evans Canyon Fire Smoke Expected to Shift

Significant smoke can still be seen in satellite imagery over Yakima, Benton, and Klickitat counties this morning. The Evans Canyon brush fire has burned 35,000 acres to date and is still active with no containment.  Smoke has been causing Moderate to Unhealthy air in Yakima and nearby communities.  Winds are expected to push some of that smoke north today, perhaps allowing some intermittent clear air for Yakima residents over the next couple days.  However, the smoke has to go somewhere, thus intermittent Moderate to USG smoke is expected in communities like Ellensburg and Cle Elum this afternoon and tomorrow.

         GOES image of smoke from Evans Canyon fire (Sept 3, 2020 - 8 am)

General winds will decrease over the Columbia Basin and the Columbia River Gorge for the next several days, bringing warm, dry weather through the Labor Day weekend and beyond. Early next week the pressure pattern will shift to bring gusty easterly winds to much of the west side. Fire danger will continue to rise and gusty easterly winds are expected on Labor Day.

In other news, smoke from California wildfires is expected to head north, and may cause surface smoke impacts in southwest Washington (e.g. Vancouver) on Friday.  There is also some minimal fire behavior in Idaho, which could push a little smoke into SE WA (e.g. Asotin county) when winds shift, tonight and into Friday morning.