Air Quality

Know the Risk

Smoke is unhealthy for everyone. Children and youth, older adults, pregnant people, and people with heart or lung conditions may be at greater risk from smoke exposure. 

Use the Air Quality Index (AQI) to understand current conditions and determine when additional precautions may be needed. Current and forecast air-quality information is available through Washington’s air-quality resources and AirNow. 

Before Smoke Arrives

Know the AQI scale. Monitor AirNow.gov for real-time Air Quality Index readings. Green (0–50) is good. Yellow (51–100) is moderate. Orange (101–150) is unhealthy for sensitive groups. Red (151–200) is unhealthy for everyone. Purple and maroon levels require everyone to stay indoors.

Have N95 masks on hand. N95 and KN95 masks filter fine particulate matter. Surgical masks and cloth masks do not provide meaningful protection from wildfire smoke. Keep at least two per person in your go-bag and home.

Prepare to shelter in place. Identify the best room in your home to shelter — ideally one with few windows and doors. Keep an air purifier with a HEPA filter if possible. Have duct tape and plastic sheeting available for sealing gaps.

Know the 'What's That Smell?' signals. If you detect unusual chemical odors near the refinery corridor, go inside, close windows and doors, turn off HVAC, and monitor Skagit Ready Alerts and local media for official guidance.

During Poor Air Quality

Reduce the amount of time you spend outdoors and the intensity of outdoor activity.

Keep indoor air as clean as possible. Close windows and doors when outdoor air quality is poor if indoor temperatures remain safe.

If you must spend time outdoors, a properly fitted NIOSH-approved particulate respirator such as an N95 can reduce exposure to smoke particles. 

If keeping windows closed makes your home dangerously hot, protecting yourself from extreme heat also becomes a priority. Consider going to a cooler indoor location with cleaner air. 

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