Kittitas County, WA – 08/22/2012 – Air quality in Kittitas County has improved over the past few days with the fire dying down and the winds clearing the air. According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, twenty-four hour averages of air quality at the Ellensburg monitoring station have been in the “good” to “moderate” ranges for the past few days.

However, wind gusts up to forty miles per hour are expected in the area over the next few days according to the National Weather Service.  The windy conditions may result in fire flare ups and/or blowing dust and ash from the fire site.  Ash and dust from the fire site will contain the same fine particulate matter found in smoke that can be harmful to health.  It is important for residents to continue to monitor air quality and take appropriate precautions:

  • Avoid spending prolonged periods of time outdoors if air quality is poor.
  • Well-fitting masks rated N-95 or P-100 can block particles found in ash and should be worn during cleanup efforts.  (If you have a heart or lung condition, please check with your health care provider before wearing a mask.  Also, masks are not designed to fit children, therefore they will not protect them.)
  • Avoid circulating ash into the air during clean up by wetting down areas to minimize dust and using damp cloths or wet mops for cleaning ash off surfaces. Do not use leaf blowers or shop vacuums that will blow ash into the air. 
  • Avoid adding to the pollution by smoking, using candles, fireplaces, and gas stoves.  

Current air quality monitoring can be seen on the Washington State Department of Ecology air monitoring site: https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/enviwa/

Information about other health issues to consider after the fire can be found on the Kittitas County Public Health Department website: www.co.kittitas.wa.us/health

Source: Kittitas County