Smoke emergency declared as wildfire haze blankets North Central Washington

WENATCHEE — The Chelan-Douglas Health District Board of Health has declared a Wildfire Smoke and Hazardous Air Quality Emergency for Chelan and Douglas counties in response to hazardous wildfire smoke affecting air quality across the region.

The declaration, approved Aug. 6, recognizes the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke and is intended to support coordinated efforts to protect residents, visitors, workers and people participating in outdoor activities. The resolution also serves as guidance for communities responding to deteriorating air quality.

Health officials are urging organizers of outdoor events to consider current Air Quality Index conditions, the expected duration of smoke exposure, the level of physical activity involved and whether attendees include people at higher risk for smoke-related illness. Those higher-risk groups include young children, older adults, pregnant individuals, people with heart or lung conditions, outdoor workers and others who may be more vulnerable to smoke exposure. Organizers are encouraged to consider indoor alternatives, provide N95 respirators when appropriate or cancel events if necessary.

The health district also outlined recommendations based on air quality levels. When the AQI reaches 151 to 200, everyone should minimize prolonged outdoor activity and children's events should be moved indoors or postponed. At AQI levels above 200, outdoor public events should be moved indoors or canceled, and people should relocate to cleaner indoor air if safe conditions cannot be maintained.

Residents are encouraged to monitor local air quality before spending time outdoors, stay indoors as much as possible during smoky conditions, keep windows and doors closed, use HEPA air cleaners or high-efficiency HVAC filtration when available, and wear a properly fitted N95 respirator if they must be outside. The health district noted that North Central Regional Library branches are available as clean air relief spaces for people unable to maintain healthy indoor air at home.

The district also reminded employers to evaluate workplace conditions and follow Washington state requirements for protecting employees who work outdoors during wildfire smoke events. Residents are encouraged to continue monitoring air quality conditions and follow guidance from the health district, the Washington State Department of Health and local emergency management agencies as conditions change.

The local declaration comes as Gov. Bob Ferguson announced Friday that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services had approved Washington's request for a federal public health emergency covering Chelan, Ferry, Okanogan, Spokane, Stevens and Yakima counties, along with several tribal nations affected by the wildfires. The federal declaration is intended to speed access to health care and critical services by allowing faster replacement of medications and medical supplies, reducing paperwork requirements and expanding options for delivering care.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media