Protective masks to filter particles in smoke are free at the Aero Methow Rescue Service headquarters in Twisp.
Some relief may be possible this weekend
For the past 10 days, Methow Valley residents have been breathing air that is unhealthy at best, and hazardous at worst. Aug. 12 was the last day that air quality was moderate or good, based on readings from state smoke monitors.
Relentless, oppressive smoke from nearby Crescent Mountain and McLeod fires has forced people indoors, prompted widespread complaining, and caused concerns for people who already have pre-existing conditions like asthma or lung disease.
However, local medical providers say they haven’t treated as many patients with smoke-related health issues as they anticipated, given the poor air quality of the past three weeks.
“It’s interesting. I expected to see people with exacerbation of asthma or COPD [chronic lung disease], but haven’t seen that yet,” said Allison Fitzgerald, a physician at Family Health Centers in Twisp. “Maybe people are staying inside more, or maybe they have left town if they have the ability to,” she said.
“I am hearing of a lot more migraines and people with itchy, watery eyes, and people complaining of a scratchy throat,” Fitzgerald said.
At Methow Valley Clinic in Winthrop, physicians don’t report a significant increase in patients suffering from smoke-related problems, although complaining about the air quality is universal, said Jeanne Walton, practice manager at the clinic. “Everybody who checks in talks about it,” Walton said.
Even if immediate health effects aren’t evident, Fitzgerald said she wonders about potential longer-term impacts of prolonged smoke inhalation on Methow Valley residents.
“Exposure to biomass fires used to be considered acute, short-term events,” Fitzgerald said. But longer fire seasons and larger fires have resulted in extended exposure to wildfire smoke in the Methow Valley and throughout the West.
Long-term impacts?
Fitzgerald said she recently searched in medical journals for scientific studies describing health impacts of prolonged exposure to wildfire smoke, but discovered there isn’t a lot of research into the subject. Epidemiologists have said more studies are needed, Fitzgerald said.
“There are studies on women who use wood stoves to cook in enclosed environments,” but those may not be relevant to the type of exposure that comes from living near wildfires, she said.
Her curiosity about long-term effects is due in part to observations of patients she treated last winter for common illnesses like colds and flu, Fitzgerald said. “I felt there were people who weren’t getting over colds and flus as quickly as I thought they should. I thought it might be smoke exposure from the summer before.” Last summer, the valley was blanketed for long periods with smoke from the Diamond Creek Fire.
Fitzgerald said she plans to conduct her own local investigation into possible longer-term impacts of smoke on the patients she sees. “I am interested to see if we can track how many people we’re seeing … with respiratory diagnosis” and compare to previous years, she said.
Valley residents appear to be following advice to stay indoors and limit outdoor activities, and many people have picked up protective masks provided by Okanogan County Health Department. The masks have been distributed throughout the valley and can be found at Aero Methow Rescue Service, in post offices, medical clinics, libraries, town halls, the Methow Valley Community Center and Senior Center, and numerous stores.
“We just restocked again,” said Jen Schumacher, director of Methow Ready, a disaster preparedness organization. She said Aero Methow keeps a supply outside the door of its headquarters on Highway 20. Schumacher said in one instance, masks were picked up for an entire wedding party.
To be effective at filtering out fine particles that can irritate or injure lungs, masks must be specifically designed for that purpose. Respirator masks labeled N95 or N100 can provide some protection.
Air quality in Twisp and Winthrop has ranged from unhealthy to hazardous since Aug. 12.
Air quality alert
An Air Quality Alert issued by the National Weather Service was expected to remain in place through Thursday (Aug. 23) for Okanogan, Chelan and Ferry counties.
“You are in an unfortunate situation because you’ve got the wildfires right next to you,” said Joey Clevenger, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Spokane. He said northwest winds were expected to clear smoke from the lower Columbia basin on Tuesday. “But the orientation of the valley and direction of the wind isn’t good for funneling winds out of the valley.”
The forecast holds hope for some cleaner air by the end of the week, however, Clevenger said. “We’re looking at westerly flow pattern after a cold front Thursday, bringing cooler and wetter air,” he said.
“Maybe the winds associated with the front could scour out some of the smoke in the valley,” Clevenger said. Once the winds subside, “the fires could calm down a bit,” he said. The forecast predicts possible rain showers in the Cascades, but most likely on the west side. By the weekend, high temperatures in the Methow Valley are predicted to be in the mid-70s, he said.
Local air quality readings are available through a new program called “Clean Air Ambassadors” launched by the Methow Valley Clean Air Project. Air quality monitors are in place at 10 locations to provide air quality measurement every 80 seconds, which are displayed on a map that can be found on the Methow Valley Citizen’s Council website under the Clean Air Ambassadors Program link.
The monitors are located at the Bush School, Mazama Trailhead, Weeman Bridge, Lower Studhorse, town of Winthrop, Liberty Bell High School, town of Twisp, upper Twisp River, Balky Hill and Benson Creek.
