Wildfire smoke has triggered a new round of Air Quality Alerts across Oregon, Washington and the Inland Northwest.
Several advisories run until further notice. Others carry firm end dates midweek.
Eastern Washington: Very Unhealthy Air Possible
The Washington Department of Ecology, the Colville Confederated Tribes and the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency issued an alert for 13 counties in eastern Washington.
Spokane, Wenatchee, Chelan, Okanogan, Colville and Pullman are all included. It runs until further notice.
Particulate levels there may reach Very Unhealthy. That’s a serious category. Officials say everyone should reduce exposure and stay inside with filtered air if possible.
A separate alert covers the Tri-Cities, Yakima Valley and Walla Walla area. It’s also open-ended, issued jointly by the state, Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency and Benton Clean Air Agency.
Seattle and Puget Sound: Smoke Moves In Through Wednesday
King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston counties are under an alert from noon Monday to 5 PM Wednesday.
That covers Seattle, Tacoma and the rest of the Puget Sound metro. Air quality is expected to worsen through the day as smoke mixes down to the surface.
Particulate levels may reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. People with health conditions should limit time outside and avoid strenuous activity.
Central and Eastern Oregon Under Advisory
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an open-ended advisory for Bend, Redmond, Prineville and the rest of Crook and Deschutes counties.
The same advisory extends northeast to La Grande, Pendleton and Enterprise.
Klamath and Lake counties, including Klamath Falls and Lakeview, are under a separate advisory through 4 PM Wednesday. Smoke drifting south from fires in central Oregon and Washington is the cause.
Baker, Harney and Malheur counties in far eastern Oregon are under an advisory through 2 PM Monday.
North Idaho and the Nez Perce Reservation
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has advisories active across the Panhandle.
Coeur d’Alene, Sandpoint, Bonners Ferry and Kellogg fall under an Unhealthy advisory, next updated August 5.
Moscow, Lewiston and the surrounding Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce counties are at Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, also updated August 5.
Clearwater and Idaho counties had their advisory extended to noon August 5.
The Nez Perce Tribe separately issued an advisory for the entire Nez Perce Reservation. Air quality is expected to degrade through Wednesday morning.
Southwest Idaho: Boise Area Advisory Through Monday
Ada, Canyon, Gem, Owyhee, Payette and Washington counties — the greater Boise area — are under an advisory through 2 PM Monday.
Air quality there is forecast at Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.
What to Do When Smoke Is in the Air
Stay inside if you can. Keep windows and doors closed.
Avoid strenuous outdoor activity, especially if smoke is visible or you can smell it.
A HEPA air purifier helps a lot indoors. If you have asthma, heart disease or another chronic condition, follow your doctor’s guidance closely.
Smoke can shift fast with the wind. Check conditions before heading out at airnow.gov, aqi.oregon.gov or oregonsmoke.org.
