Air quality throughout Clark County and much of Western Washington and Oregon continues to be poor, with smoke covering much of both states from the Nakia Creek Fire and other wildfires in the Cascades.
Vancouver’s Air Quality Index remained in the unhealthy range throughout the day, with most areas between 150 and 190, according to purpleair.com.
Seattle currently has the worst air quality in the world, with readings well into the hazardous range.
An air quality alert had been set to expire at 6 p.m. Thursday, but the National Weather Service in Portland has extended it until 6 p.m. Monday.
The Southwest Clean Air Agency extended its Stage II burn ban for Clark, Cowlitz and Lewis counties Thursday afternoon. The ban will remain in effect until 10 a.m. Friday. This means all outdoor burning along with the use of fireplaces, wood stoves and inserts is prohibited until further notice.
The release does note that if wood burning is the only source of heat for your residence you are exempt, though asked to burn as clean as possible.
“Due to a continued influx of wildfire smoke and the cool mornings with poor mixing conditions, the levels of fine particle pollution are expected to remain in the unhealthy for sensitive groups to unhealthy range through at least Friday morning. Pollution levels are expected to be elevated with spikes in the evening and early morning with contributions from both wood stoves and wildfire smoke. Conditions are expected to improve on Friday,” the Southwest Clean Air Agency wrote in a press release.
Officials are urging individuals to take steps to reduce exposure to the pollutants in the air. This means limiting time spent outside, avoiding strenuous activity and wearing an N95 mask if you do go outdoors, according to the Washington State Department of Health.
The agency also recommends a number of measures to keep indoor air clean:
- Close your windows and doors.
- Do not add to indoor air pollution by actions such as burning candles or smoking indoors.
- If you have an air conditioning unit, set it to recirculate.
“Air quality remains unhealthy for everyone in Clark County. Wildfire smoke can cause sore throat, headaches, burning eyes, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath and chest pain. If you are concerned about your symptoms, call your health care provider,” Clark County Public Health said on Twitter.
The VA Portland Health Care System has seen a slight uptick in people coming into the emergency department with respiratory issues, according to Kelli Roesch, the organization’s interim public affairs officer.
More information about air quality can be found at swcleanair.gov, airnow.gov or wasmoke.blogspot.com.
