With several fires burning in the Northwest, air quality has become a concern. The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency reports that the air classification in and around Spokane has moved between “moderate” and “unhealthy for sensitive groups” today.
If you were in Spokane last summer, you probably remember how smoky it was. Earlier this week, Spokane Regional Health District health officer Bob Lutz said smoky air this summer was no longer a matter of “if,” but a matter of “when.” With several fires burning in the northwest, it seems the “when” is now.
“If we’re in a moderate, the air is acceptable for most people. But there are some people in our population that are unusually sensitive to air pollution, and they may be affected in that moderate category," said Lisa Woodard from the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency.
Spokane spent much of the morning in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category.
“That means that some members of sensitive groups could experience some health effects," Woodard said. "For example, if you have heart conditions, if you have breathing, respiratory type conditions, then you are considered in a sensitive group.”
Kim Papich, a spokesperson for the Spokane Regional Health District, reminds people to follow the district's recommendations when air quality diminishes.
"If you're told to stay indoors, it's really important that you do stay indoors and keep indoor air as clean as possible," Papich said. "We also don't necessarily recommend that people wear masks, especially dust masks that you can find at hardware stores. Those don't offer a lot of protection. Our primary recommendation is to stay indoors."
For updated information on the current air condition, you can visit SpokaneCleanAir.org.