Air quality continues to suffer in Western Montana as fires burn

Wildfire smoke made for unhealthy air today in Central Oregon. Rob Brooks, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Pendleton, said it is probably a little smoke from many of them. In late afternoon, it showed improvement by reaching to 10 miles.

The weather service has extended an air quality alert for the Tri-Cities and surrounding area until further notice.

Wildfires continuing to burn across the Northwest have blanketed the Treasure State with haze and disrupted air quality, which Department of Environmental Quality officials say is becoming worse as days go by.

Air quality also had been rated as unhealthy Saturday in the Tri-Cities before improving to a rating of “unhealthy for sensitive groups” Sunday.

Unhealthy air conditions compelled Eastern Washington to cancel the first of two football practices Monday morning, coach Beau Baldwin said.

Air quality readings in most parts of eastern Montana remain at “good” levels, although Billings was listed as “moderate”.

(Purple) When air quality is rated as “very unhealthy”, health officials recommend that people with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly, and children should avoid any outdoor activity; everyone else should avoid prolonged exertion.

Highly sensitive people, such as children, pregnant women and seniors, as well as people with asthma, respiratory infection, are particularly suggested to stay indoors.