Mayors around the Puget Sound are spreading the word about the potential smoke problem this summer similar to what we encountered last year. Washington State has already experienced over 300 fires so far in 2019, with half of them occurring in Western Washington. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources believes we may see a record number of wildfires in 2019.
“Smoke from wildfires has become a recurring seasonal air quality hazard,” said Mayor Jennifer Gregerson. “Smoke from wildfires can be hazardous to the health of many Mukilteo residents, especially those with heart disease or breathing problems, pregnant women, our seniors and children. I want to ask residents to prepare for the potential smokey conditions by taking steps to keep their indoor air cleaner and limiting outdoor activity when air quality is poor.”
Local businesses can also help mitigate the impact of wildfire smoke by setting clear procedures for communicating with employees, ensuring they have high-quality air filters on their HVAC systems to improve indoor air quality, and taking precautions to protect the health of outdoor workers.
Learn more about “Smoke Ready” from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
