Southwest Clean Air Agency issues air advisory due to wildfire smoke in regionFree

The Southwest Clean Air Agency issued an air pollution advisory today through Saturday due to increasing fine particulate matter levels in Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties.

Levels are expected to reach moderate to unhealthy for sensitive groups due to wildfire smoke throughout the state.

Current air quality information is available at www.swcleanair.gov/burning/airquality.asp. Southwest Clean Air Agency’s monitoring network doesn’t capture air quality conditions in all communities, so residents should gauge air quality conditions where they live.

Local smoke levels can rise and fall rapidly, depending on weather factors including wind direction.

Wildfire smoke can cause a range of health problems: chest pain, fast heartbeat, coughing, stinging eyes, asthma attack, trouble breathing, irritated sinuses and headaches.

Sensitive groups — including children, older adults, and people who are pregnant, have heart or lung issues or who have had a stroke — should take precautions by: staying indoors, limiting physical activity outdoors, closing windows in your home and keeping the indoor air clean, avoiding driving, postponing outdoor activities and wearing a N95 or N100 rated mask.