Smoke from wildfires clogged the sky across the U.S. West, blotting out mountains and city skylines, delaying flights and forcing authorities to tell even healthy adults in the Seattle area to stay indoors.
Here are tips from authorities on what kinds of masks to use:
- If you work outside, use a mask rated N95 or better which can be found at most hardware stores. Not all masks will fend off small particles from smoke, so do your research.Here's a link to N95 masks on Amazon, and they also are sold at Home Depot, sold at Harbor Freight, and sold at Ace Hardware, among other stores.
- If you are unsure if a mask is rated N95, look for the fine print on the inside or outside of the mask, or check with the place where you received it. Most N95-rated masks will be marked on the outside of the mask.
- Use an air filter at home that is rated is MERV 13 or higher.
Follow this link for additional respirator information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
CLICK HERE to see a real-time air quality map from the State of Washington Department of Ecology.
That map is embedded below.
To use the embedded map, click "Air Monitoring Sites" in the gray box at the middle of the map screen and let the data load.
More smoke-related news from KIRO 7:
- How to protect yourself during smoke days
- Smoke from brush fire near Maple Valley shuts down WB Highway 18 for hours
- Wildfire smoke causing flight delays at Sea-Tac Airport
- When will smoke clear in Seattle? KIRO 7 PinPoint Meteorologist weighs in
- Do you have an investigative story tip? Send us an email at investigate@kiro7.com
Cox Media Group
