WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

1. WILDFIRE SMOKEand Air Quality in the Puget Sound: What happened these last few summers, and what does the future look like? WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

2. Typical Summer ... WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

3. … something’s wrong ?! … WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

4. ABOUT US WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE Oversee outdoor air quality in four counties Provide air quality forecasts and education; declare air quality burn bans Long history with large industry Added focus on transportation and wood smoke (recently wildfire smoke) In addition to enforcement, we promote partnerships and incentives to improve air quality

5. MAIN TYPES OF POLLUTION OUTDOORS WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE • Fine particles (PM2.5) • from diesel engines, some from cars • from wood burning stoves, also burn piles, garbage • from wildfire smoke • Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) • mostly truck emissions, some from cars • Air toxics (like benzene, formaldehyde) • from diesel engines and industrialsources

6. FINE PARTICLES (PM2.5) CAUSE THE LARGEST HEALTH IMPACT WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE Fine particles are very small Youngest and older most at risk

7. MANY HEALTH RISKS • Eyes, nose, and throat irritation • Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease • Heart attacks • Strokes • Early death • Lifelong reduced lung function • Cancer WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

8. 2011 Typical Annual Fine Particle Pollution

9. 2017 & 2018 WERE VERY DIFFERENT

10. Satellite Images of 2017 – 2018 Wildfires WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

11. 2017 SMOKE LEVELS Max 70 ug/m3 BC Smoke CA/OR Jolly Mt & Norse Peak fires July 4th

12. 2018 SMOKE LEVELS Max 105 ug/m3 BC/Cascades smoke Vancouver Island and Maple fire CA/OR smoke Siberian smoke July 4th

13. 2018 WHY SO BAD? • Wettest rain season on record for many areas • Spurred growth of understory, increasing available fuel to burn • Then driest summer on record for many areas

14. FUTURE OF SMOKE? https://www.pnas.org/content/113/42/11770

15. “Activity forecast” – daily county level forecasts on pscleanair.org HOW TO FIND THE FORECAST WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

16. Pop-up for each site shows: • 3-day site history • “Colors” from the last two days • Most recent data HOW TO LOOK AT CURRENT LEVELS http://www.pscleanair.org/networkmap WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

17. BEPREPARED WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE Check the air quality forecast regularly If the air looks and smells smoky, minimize outdoor activities, indoor air generally lower in pollution. Stock up on supplies, medications, and other items you may need for your family and pets so you can avoid going outside

18. BEPREPARED (page 2) WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE If you can, purchase an indoor air filter. (just a basic filter) Pick a “clean room” to place the air filter. Best to have few windows and doors. Or, find a “cooling center” or “clean air center”, like libraries or community centers. Many commercial buildings have good filtration.

19. DIY FILTER-FANS • MERV 13 rated filter • Can use brackets, or even just duct tape • Supplies generally less than $50 WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

20. N95MASKS OR BETTER • Can be useful for times you need to be outside • But, proper fit and use is critical and not always easy WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

21. CONCLUSIONS AND CONTACT • Generally more smoke expected in the future • Be prepared ahead of time • Go to our website for the latest information: www.pscleanair.org • Go to our website to file nuisance or wood smoke complaints • Ask any organizations you are a part of how they are preparing for wildfire smoke • Graeme Carvlin, graemec@pscleanair.org WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE

22. FORECAST EXTRAS • Our website: www.pscleanair.org • For more info: www.pscleanair.org/wildfiresmoke • Social media: • https://www.facebook.com/pscleanair/ • https://twitter.com/pscleanair • Email sign-up list: https://bit.ly/2Tahu0X • Text alerts: Text WILDFIRES to 313131 WILDFIRE SMOKE PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE