Are you prepared for the coming smoky days in Washington?

They’re coming. Smoky days. More specifically, wildfire smoke lingering through Western Washington dropping the air quality, and causing a stir just like a snow day or a heat wave.

Just letting you know in case you missed the memo from the National Weather Service and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan. Or King County Public Health, the Seattle Fire Department, and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. Oh yeah, then there’s King County Pets; they’re warning about wildfire smoke risks for our furry friends.

And the Seattle Channel covered it just in case. Seattle-area officials are waging a smoke day information campaign across social media and beyond, before stores run out of air filters and face masks — which is what happened last year when smoke descended upon the region and stayed for a while.

“Last summer was daunting,” said Craig Kenworthy, executive director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. “Unfortunately, we are losing part of summer … it’s a sad thing to say this, but if you love the outdoors, you might want to think about getting out when it’s safe, because we can’t tell you anymore when it’s safe.”

The air quality over the summer of 2018 was, at times, the equivalent of smoking seven cigarettes a day, and even on par with — and sometimes worse than — Beijing’s notoriously bad conditions. That’s why Seattle-area officials want to be more prepared this year.

Seattle wildfires and smoky days

Just like when the frigid winter air prompts the city to open warming shelters, Seattle will start equipping four city buildings to serve as shelters on smoke days. Clean air centers include: International District Community Center; Rainier Beach Community Center; Seattle Center Armory; and Expo Hall on the Seattle Center campus.

“We were hoping the first year (of smoke), it was an aberration, and the second year we hoped it was a second aberration, but we now know it may be the new normal,” Mayor Durkan said Wednesday. “With that, I’ve heard a number of people say, ‘August was why I stayed in Seattle.’ And I urge you, don’t leave.”

“But last year, we experienced 24 days in our summer where we had a really dangerous level of air quality … that includes eight days when it was unhealthy for anybody to be outside,” she continued. “So we have to prepare as if this will be the new normal.”

There are similar efforts happening in Kitsap, Snohomish, and Pierce Counties.

Quick tips for smoky days

For a more extensiveness list of smoke day tips, read our previous post here.

• Keep and eye on the air quality index. This will tell you when, where, and how good/bad air quality is.
• When air quality is poor, stay indoors, close all windows and doors.
• Avoid physical activity.
• Use a face mask that is rated rated N95 or better.
• Use an air filter at home that is rated is MERV 13 or higher. If you need to make one in a pinch, use duct tape to attach an air filter to a box fan.

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