SMOKE: Air-quality alert extended (again) and other notes

| Environment | Health | West Seattle news

(WSB photo)

2:24 PM: That’s how it looked from Don Armeni Boat Ramp at midday today, and the online readings indicate it’s only gotten worse – right now those levels are higher than anything we’ve seen in repeated real-time-map checks during this early-fall smoke. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has officially extended the regional air-quality alert seven more hours, until midnight tomorrow night. And the air (lack of) quality is having other effects – just heard over Seattle Fire radio, for example, an order for all firefighters to cease non-essential activities such as training and head back to their stations. If you have to go outside, and are wondering if a mask would help, here’s a state fact sheet about that. As for what to do to protect indoor air quality, this page has some suggestions about that. Yes, rain is still expected by Friday.

3:37 PM: Seattle Public Utilities just announced that it’s closing transfer stations for the rest of the day because of the high smoke-pollution levels. … We saw a few headlines going by elsewhere declaring Seattle currently has “the worst air in the world” and verified that it’s the worst CITY air in the world right now – see the real-time worldwide list here.

THURSDAY PM NOTE: The alert has been extended again, until 10 am Friday.

Rhonda October 19, 2022 (3:45 pm)

181 AQI for West Seattle/South Park at 15:40 and still rising. It was 170 two hours ago.

waikikigirl October 19, 2022 (4:08 pm)

We had to go to Duvall this early afternoon and it was well into the 200’s AQI there and going back home over the I-90 bridge you couldn’t even see Lake Washington’s water! I have never seen anything like this in my life, never and I have lived here my whole life.

Britt Clark October 19, 2022 (4:37 pm)

Currently 250 in South Tacoma. This is beyond miserable and I feel like not working to put this out is abelist. People are being severely affected by the smoke and the number of at risk individuals *should* be too high to ignore.

WSB October 19, 2022 (6:33 pm)

Crews ARE working on the fires.
miws October 20, 2022 (1:27 pm)

Britt Clark, https://www.ncwlife.com/news/franz-explains-why-smoke-from-the-bolt-creek-fire-hasnt-stopped/article_5ee9105e-4c0e-11ed-ba2e-97f818b4ec71.html?fbclid=IwAR3k8_j6kR4fhYSdftA5hVZQarxaBZ0xLid8bAmkiGIFQP2hqg-BRp1HlRQ

Josh October 19, 2022 (5:32 pm)

232 as 5:32 pm insane

Cranky October 19, 2022 (6:10 pm)

whatever illusion we had about this ending now… Smashed…..Actually 438 in Sammamish

Jim P. October 19, 2022 (6:46 pm)

Look at it over towards Redmond and those parts. Can’t imagine how anyone can even breathe.But, just stuck my nose out the door in South Delridge and the air smells less like an old fireplace or ashtray than it did earlier. I hope that’s a signal.

Rhonda October 19, 2022 (10:29 pm)

I was in Bellevue watching retail employees standing outside smoking cigarettes in air that was nearly unbreatheable.

Mj October 19, 2022 (7:14 pm)

Very annoying, the threshold for professional athletes, aka Seahawks, is consistently over 200.

A good rain should clear up the air; and as a side note likely generate a lot of work for auto body shop.

jim October 19, 2022 (11:19 pm)

Anybody chip a tooth trying to breath in this stuff today?

flimflam October 20, 2022 (6:56 am)

i read that there is an investigation re: the new fire and evidence it was cause by fireworks or gunshots…i sincerely hope that IF the guilty are identified they face serious, serious reprucussions. I recall the kid that started the huge firein the columbia gorge in OR barely got a slap on the wrist for his destructive actions that started that fire.

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