The wetting rains have really helped damper the fire behavior, and thankfully, minimal smoke made it into Missoula County this past week. Air quality fluctuated between Good and Moderate which is where we are still currently sitting. As far as the fires with the highest chance of sending smoke to the Missoula area, firefighters have made great progress on containment: the Knowles Fire is 47% contained, the Corral Creek Fire is 84% contained. Check out fire updates and progress at InciWeb.Wildfire.gov.
There will likely be some light smoke throughout the County on Saturday increasing into the evening and into Sunday, coupled with a high pressure system and warmer temperatures. Fires west of Missoula have the greatest chance of sending smoke our way including several fires in the Bitterroots. Again, expect the drainage and accumulation of smoke into lower lying areas in the evenings. When days are hot, like they’re forecasted for later this weekend, you may need to be creative when it comes to cleaning your indoor air. HEPA air cleaners, DIY box fan cleaners, and MERV13+ filters in HVAC systems work incredibly well at removing harmful smoke particles from the indoor air you breathe and reducing the negative associated health impacts such as headaches, itchy eyes, sore throats, and more. It’s all right, if needed, to cool your home down by letting smokier air inside and then closing the windows and running air cleaners to get rid of any smoke inside. If traveling through a smoky area, turn your car A/C on recirculate. Learn about cleaning your indoor air and reducing your exposure to smoke at MontanaWildfireSmoke.org.
For this long weekend, be sure to keep tabs on wildfire smoke by checking the Fire and Smoke Map. There’s even a handy app version of the sit! I find this tool extremely helpful when I’m planning to travel to other parts of the state. For a broader smoke forecast of the entire state, check out MT DEQ’s Smoke Forecasts.
Mushu (miss air quali-kitty) and I hope everyone gets to enjoy this long weekend ahead. If the air is Good, get outside and make the most of it!
