Wildfire Smoke Advisory issued in North Idaho

Hayden, ID — Panhandle Health District and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality have issued a Wildfire Smoke Advisory for Boundary, Bonner, Kootenai, Shoshone, and Benewah Counties. Wildfire smoke from several fires currently burning in Idaho, Washington, Oregon and California are impacting air quality.

At this time, air quality is categorized as “moderate” but will deteriorate to “unhealthy for sensitive groups” or “hazardous” as the weekend progresses. Older adults, pregnant women, children and those with pre-existing respiratory issues or heart disease are often more affected by these conditions. Residents may notice the smell of wildfire smoke and reduced visibility.

Wildfire smoke can irritate your lungs, cause inflammation, affect your immune system, and make you more prone to lung infections, including SARS-CoV-2, the virus that cause COVID-19. Protect your family from the smoke by staying inside. Because you may be staying inside due to smoke this weekend, in order to protect you and your family from COVID-19, consider delaying your get-togethers until the air quality is good enough for you all to be comfortably outside where you can maintain social distance..

Residents are advised to:

• Avoid heavy work or exercise outdoors.
• Set air conditioning units and car vent systems to re-circulate. For homes without a central heating and/or cooling system, use portable air purifiers to remove particles.
• Limit time outdoors, especially if you have respiratory conditions or heart disease.
• Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated helps dilute phlegm in the respiratory tract, making it easier to cough out smoke particles.
• Seek medical treatment for uncontrolled coughing, wheezing, choking, or if you have difficulty breathing once you move back indoors.
• Stay up-to-date on air quality in your community. View near real-time air quality monitoring by visiting www.deq.idaho.gov/air-quality/monitoring/daily-reports-and-forecasts.