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Air quality rated “unhealthy” in Great Falls due to wildfire smoke

Posted at 9:26 AM, Aug 24, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-24 11:26:53-04

Wildfires burning in Montana and other Western states has resulted in widespread hazy skies, and is affecting the air quality.

Friday’s air quality in Great Falls is rated "unhealthy" (red) by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, meaning that active children and adults, and people with respiratory disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion; everyone else, especially children, should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

Other areas of Montana are also rated "unhealthy" today, including areas in and around Cut Bank, the Flathead region, and Libby in northwestern Montana.

Areas that are rated "unhealthy for sensitive groups" (orange) on Friday include Lewistown, Helena, Missoula, and Malta.

The DEQ rates air quality based on the amount of particulate matter (PM) in the air, which is often caused by smoke from wildfires. In addition to being emitted from wildfires, PM can also come directly from other sources, such as construction sites, unpaved roads, fields, and smokestacks. The EPA says that PM is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.

Here are the ratings and their corresponding color codes, listed in order of increasing danger or health risks: 

  • Good (green): No negative health effects.
  • Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (orange): Increasing likelihood of respiratory symptoms in sensitive individuals, aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly. People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should limit prolonged exertion.
  • Unhealthy (red): Increased aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly; increased respiratory effects in the general population. People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should avoid prolonged exertion; everyone else should limit prolonged exertion.
  • Very Unhealthy (Purple): Significant aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly; significant risk of respiratory effects in the general population. People with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should avoid any outdoor activity; everyone else should avoid prolonged exertion.
  • Hazardous (maroon): Serious aggravation of heart or lung disease and premature mortality in persons with cardiopulmonary disease and the elderly; serious risk of respiratory effects in the general population. Everyone should avoid any outdoor exertion.

The DEQ says that the weekend looks like it could be highly variable in terms of smoke impacts across the state. On Friday night, a cold front is expected to sweep through the state. This will likely cause brief improvement to the hazy conditions as increased winds help push built up smoke out of the region. Unfortunately, with the intense fire activity in Washington and British Columbia, we will likely see smoke pour back into the state on Saturday. Things may improve again on Monday if we see a widespread precipitation event, but there is a lot of uncertainty at this time regarding how much rain might fall. If we don’t see a lot of rain, smoke from British Columbia will likely continue to impact Montana, especially the northern half of the state through much of next week. 

Even more uncertain is the possibility of rain on the British Columbia fires at the end of next week. There are hints that we could see some widespread improvement in air quality by the end of next week, but it is too soon to tell if this scenario will materialize. 

Fires
Northwest Montana:
In Glacier National Park, the Howe Ridge fire is currently 10,323 acres. Also in or near the park, the Whale Butte fire in 327 acres, the Paola Ridge fire is 578 acres, and the Coal Ridge fire is 280 acres.
The Gold Hill fire, north of Libby, is 1,398 acres and 1% contained. 
The Davis fire, near Yaak, is currently 6,365 acres and 12% contained. 
The Sterling Complex, near Eureka, is 1,265 acres and 34% contained.
The Brownstone fire, in the Bob Marshall wilderness, is 1,920 acres. 
The Cougar fire, over the border in Idaho, is 6,626 acres and 24% contained. 
The Surprise Creek fire, also in the Idaho Panhandle, is 2,631 acres. 
The Rampike fire, also in the Idaho Panhandle, is 2,400 acres. 
In southwest Montana:
The Wigwan fire, near Ennis, is 4,087 acres and 87% contained. The nearby Monument fire is 6,614 acres and 32% contained. 

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