Distant wildfires create haze throughout Inland Northwest

Smoke from wildfires in north central Washington created a thick haze Saturday over the Inland Northwest, limiting views and irritating throats.

Washington’s smoke was blowing well into Montana, according to the Northern Rockies Coordinating group, which represents the federal agencies that fight fires.

Air quality likely is approaching levels that are unhealthy for people sensitive to air pollution, said Ron Edgar, chief of technical service for the Spokane County Air Pollution Control Authority.

Still, the official reading of air quality Saturday afternoon was listed as “good.” That’s because it’s measured as a 24-hour average and the smoke didn’t become noticeable in Spokane until around noon, Edgar said.

He recommends that people sensitive to smoke remain indoors in places with air conditioners or air filters while the smoke is noticeable outside. Others should refrain from strenuous activity.

For people with asthma and other breathing problems, “if you can see that smoke or get a whiff of it, it is better to stay inside,” Edgar said.

A wind started to blow the smoke in on Friday, said National Weather Service Meteorologist Jeffrey Cote. The haze is expected to remain until a new weather system moves through the area Monday evening.

“This is the time of year we get a lot of fires acting up,” Cote said.

“Generally, we are in a very stable atmosphere, and it’s hard to mix all of this smoke and particulate matter out,” he said.

The largest of the fires causing the haze is the 74-square-mile Tripod fire, which is seven miles northeast of Winthrop, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordinating Center.

The 7-square-mile Flick Creek blaze is three miles south of Stehekin, and the 6-square-mile Tin Pan fire is seven miles west of Lucerne, both near Lake Chelan.