A shift in wind direction is forecasted to bring wildfire smoke from fires burning in Canada and other areas of Washington to our area this weekend. This will be the first significant smoke event of the summer for our community, so if you haven’t already, please make sure you have a plan and the supplies you need to stay healthy indoors: 

• Close windows and doors unless temperatures inside get too hot.
• Filter indoor air by using an HVAC system, HEPA portable air cleaner, or DIY box fan filter.
• Don’t add to indoor air pollution, such as smoking or burning candles indoors.
• Set thermostats to recirculate.

Remember that smoky air doesn’t just affect the lungs, it can also increase risk of things like heart disease and stroke in people who are vulnerable. If you must be outside during poor air quality days please wear a high-quality mask, like an N95, to protect your health. Cloth masks and surgical masks will not filter out the harmful particles in wildfire smoke.

• Air quality can vary significantly from one place to another and during different times of the day. To check air quality for where you are or where you are going, visit wasmoke.blogspot.com or nwcleanairwa.gov.
• For updated alerts from the regional US National Weather Service office, visit weather.gov/sew and follow them on social media.
• To learn more about smoke safety, visit our Wildfire Smoke page, DOH's Smoke from fires page, and CDC's Protect Yourself from Wildfire Smoke page.