Air Quality Alert

The have issued an Air Quality Alert until 11 AM PDT Thursday.

An Air Quality Alert has been issued for Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Kittitas, Klickitat, Walla Walla and Yakima Counties until further notice due to expected wildfire smoke from regional fires. Expect some clearing out and intermittent good air quality but with significant fires on the landscape conditions can worsen quickly to unhealthy air. Be sure to check air monitors in your area before outdoor activities.

People can take the following precautions to protect their health:

* Follow local burn restrictions to prevent deteriorating air quality.

* Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions.

* People with heart or lung problems and young children are especially vulnerable. These people should stay indoors while smoke levels are high.

* Use certified High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in indoor heating ventilation, cooling, and air purification systems.

* Avoid using wood-burning stoves and other sources of indoor smoke if possible.

Information from the Washington Department of Ecology web site is available at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/air.html or call 360-407-6000. Information from the Yakima Regional Clean Air Agency web site is available at http://www.yakimacleanair.org or call 509-834-2050. Information from the Benton County Clean Air Agency web site is available at http://www.bentoncleanair.org or call 509-783-1304.