As we experience some of the worst air quality in memory, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and three county health districts, including the Snohomish Health District, have issued a wildfire smoke update.
As of Friday morning, air quality was UNHEALTHY for everyone. And the air is predicted to be UNHEALTHY to HAZARDOUS through the weekend.
·
Stay at home when possible.
·
Limit your activity outdoors, such
as running, bicycling, physical labor, sports, or hobbies.
·
Close windows in your home, if
possible, to keep the indoor air clean. If you have an air conditioner, use it
in recirculation mode. Make sure your home ventilation system is maintained
following manufacturer recommendations (e.g., replace filters regularly). Don’t
contribute to indoor air pollution. Use a portable air cleaner if available.
·
Heat can be dangerous too. If it
becomes unbearably hot, it’s better to open the windows for a short period of
time.
·
Masks with the label “N95” or “N100”
are the most effective type of mask that protects you from air pollution, but
due to ongoing COVID-19 response we need to reserve those for health care and
other frontline workers for now. While cloth face coverings are recommended to
reduce the spread of COVID-19, they offer limited protection from air pollution
and wildfire smoke and must be properly worn. Any mask or face covering should be
used only as a last resort to protect against wildfire smoke.
·
Check with your health care provider
for more specific health questions and concerns. As always, seek medical
attention if symptoms are serious.
Wildfires have been occurring on both sides of the Cascades. And that has included destruction of houses in the Sumner, Graham, and the Bonney Lake areas. The Downey Creek Fire in the Glacier Peak Wilderness has grown to 1,000 acres but is not threatening any towns.
While there are currently no wildfires threatening any houses or other structures in Snohomish County, the explosive September fire season after a dry summer points to the wildfire danger as humans continue to build on the edge of wildland areas.
The Snohomish County Fire Marshal has issued a Burn Ban that includes all recreational fires except from charcoal and gas grills.
Being prepared for wildfire by making your home a defensible space is doubly important in this fire season. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources recommends that you take the following actions to protect your home:
·
Rake leaves, dead limbs, and twigs.
Remove leaves and rubbish from under structures and remove vines from the walls
of the home. Clear all flammable vegetation.
·
Thin a 15-foot space between tree crowns
and remove limbs within 15 feet of the ground.
·
Remove dead branches that extend
over the roof.
·
Prune tree branches and shrubs
within 15 feet of a stovepipe or chimney outlet.
·
Ask the power company to clear
branches from powerlines.
·
Mow grass regularly.
·
Clear a 10-foot area around propane
tanks and the barbecue. Place a screen over the grill - use nonflammable
material with mesh no coarser than one quarter inch.
·
Regularly dispose of newspapers and
rubbish at an approved site. Follow local burning regulations.
·
Place stove, fireplace and grill
ashes in a metal bucket, soak in water for 2 days; then bury the cold ashes in
mineral soil.
·
Store gasoline, oily rags, and other
flammable materials in approved safety cans. Place cans in a safe location away
from the base of buildings.
·
Stack firewood at least 100 feet
away and uphill from your home. Clear combustible material within 20 feet.
·
Review your homeowner's insurance
policy and prepare/update a list of your home's contents.
Air Quality Resources-
Snohomish County:
https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/AlertCenter.aspx?AID=138
Snohomish County Fire Marshal:
https://www.snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/76207/Burn-Ban-press-release-for-090820
Washington Department of Health:
Wildfire Safety-
Washington State Department of Natural Resources:
https://www.dnr.wa.gov/firewise
https://www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/rp_fire_defend_home_from_wildfire.pdf?o7os4a
FEMA:
The Herald:
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/downey-creek-fire-spreads-to-1000-acres-east-of-darrington/
No comments:
Post a Comment