‘Very unhealthy’ air in Whatcom as wildfire smoke blankets Bellingham. Here’s the forecast
Smoke from wildfires will remain an issue this weekend, according to the Saturday, Sept. 12, update from the National Weather Service. The update noted air quality issues across the region will continue probably into Monday.
Relief may come with showers Monday night and Tuesday.
Until then, there is little relief from the smoke. The Northwest Clean Air Agency’s Saturday blog post says: “There are no pockets of clean air to retreat to this weekend. Your favorite campground or hiking trail isn’t going to be magically shielded from smoke, no matter what the elevation.”
The agency advises people to stay indoors.
“The size of the Oregon smoke plumes parked offshore is so ‘super-massive,’ and the fires themselves are very smoky, so smoke will continue to pour into the state for a while to come. And there are also several fires within Washington to contend with,” the blog continued.
Due to increasingly poor air quality, Whatcom Unified Command has closed drive-thru testing scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Civic Field, according to a county news release.
Those with appointments will be notified of cancellations and have an opportunity to register for an appointment at a later date, according to the release.
The Northwest Clear Air Agency monitors showed poor air quality for these Whatcom County locations at noon Saturday:
▪ Bellingham: Very unhealthy for particulate matter. The Washington State Department of Ecology lists the air quality index at 283.
▪ Columbia Valley: Unhealthy for particulate matter.
▪ Ferndale: Very unhealthy for particulate matter.
According to the World Air Quality Index project:
▪ Unhealthy air quality, with an index of 151-200, means everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
▪ Very unhealthy air quality, with an index of 201-300, means health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected. Active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid all outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit outdoor exertion.
▪ Hazardous air quality, with an index of more than 300, means health alert where everyone may experience more serious health effects and everyone should avoid all outdoor exertion.
The state Department of Health warns that “breathing in wildfire smoke can cause symptoms that are relatively minor, such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, and also more dangerous symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath.:
You can protect yourself from smoky air by staying inside and keeping your indoor air clean, according to the health department. It suggests:
▪ “Close windows and doors when it’s smoky outside, and open windows to let in fresh air during times when there’s better air quality outside.
▪ “Set air conditioners to re-circulate.
▪ “Avoid burning candles/incense, smoking, broiling/frying foods, and vacuuming, as these can add to indoor pollution.
▪ “Use a portable air cleaner with a HEPA filter.
▪ “Build your own box fan filter.”
Burn bans in effect
Officials at the Northwest Clean Air Agency continued a “stage two” burn ban that outlaws all outside fires, including recreational fires and campfires, in Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties.
Fire officials in Whatcom County and the cities of Bellingham and Ferndale issued similar burn bans Wednesday.
Propane and charcoal barbecues and propane fire pits without wood are allowed, however.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 10 issued a ban on open burning for all tribal reservations in Oregon and Washington because of the smoke.
Whatcom County officials closed the Plantation Rifle Range because they feared sparking a wildfire.
This story was originally published September 12, 2020 at 9:03 AM.
