It’s fire season: Get prepared for wildfires, smoky skies

The forecast from the National Interagency Coordinating Center (NICC) could hardly be more chilling. It shows the Pacific Northwest, Washington included, facing an extreme risk of wildfires this year.

What, you may ask, is the NICC and why should we pay attention to its forecasts?

Based in Boise, Idaho, the NICC tracks wildfires throughout the U.S. and coordinates the response to fires nationwide. The agencies whose efforts it coordinates are engaged in preventing and combating wildfires.

On July 27, the NICC reported that more than 226,000 acres were burned in large fires and more than 8,754 personnel were assigned to wildfires.

Since Washington is wildfire country, the forecast of a severe fire risk ahead is obviously worrisome –with seniors at special risk.

Age and infirmity can make it difficult to evacuate when ordered to do so. Even if you’re not near a wildfire, the smoke from fires far away can cause harm. The more pulmonary issues you have, the greater your risk.

So, what can you do to make it through this year’s wildfire season in good shape? Here’s a three-step guide to wildfire survival:

• Pay attention to all warnings of wildfires, even if they are not in your backyard. Wildfire smoke blows far and wide. The fires that blanketed the East Coast in smog in June were in Canada, hundreds of miles away. Watch the local weather forecasts for red flag days – dry and windy conditions that make the fire risk high.

• Heed the advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on how to handle wildfire smoke without it getting the best of you. The trick is preparing in advance.

• Learn more about the American Red Cross Wildfire Preparedness Program – a national effort by the Red Cross to teach individuals how to prevent wildfires. The Red Cross and local firefighters tested the program recently in a pilot run in Chelan County. More pilot programs are on the way. Stay tuned.

How you prepare for this summer’s wildfire season depends on where you live. If you live near wilderness, you must prepare to defend against fire and develop plans to evacuate or shelter in place until a fire is contained. Even if fire is not a direct threat, the summer still is likely to see periods of dangerous smoke filling the skies over Washington that’s thick enough to make you ill.

If you face a real fire threat, do what you can to defend your house and grounds – and your family. You can do a lot to protect against fire by establishing a 100-foot defensi- ble perimeter around your house –clearing out anything that could burn from within the perimeter.

Remove anything flammable from within five feet of the house –trash, wood piles, compost heaps. Farther out, clear out low-lying shrubbery that might help fire climb into tree crowns.

Trim grass to under 4 inches. Trim all branches that are within 10 feet of the ground and space all trees at least 10 feet apart. Break up lawns with gravel paths to serve as firebreaks. Keep propane tanks far from your house.

Prepare to evacuate or shelter in place if fire breaks out. Have two weeks’ worth of supplies on hand: water, non-perishable food, sanitary needs and the like to sustain you if you must stay indoors for a time.

Have a go-bag ready in case you must evacuate. You want changes of clothing, toiletry supplies, a flashlight and battery-powered radio plus extra batteries, copies of important papers and medical prescriptions. Take charging gear for all your electronic devices. And take some cash with you since ATM machines may not be working. Keep the bag handy so you can grab it as you head out the door.

Wildfire smoke dangers

The danger from wildfire smoke is less obvious but no less real. The old adage “where there is smoke there is fire” can be turned inside out to remind us where there is fire, there is smoke. Every fire throws off smoke – a mix of noxious fumes and abrasive sub-microscopic particles. The CDC warns that wildfire smoke can produce symptoms ranging from stinging eyes to difficulty breathing to asthma attacks.

Wildfire smoke can affect anyone, but seniors with heart and lung issues are at the greatest risk.

Risky as wildfire smoke is, it is nearly impossible to avoid during wildfire season.

The best stay-safe strategy is to expect it and prepare for it.

On June 30, the CDC published a health advisory alert advising health care professionals to be on the lookout for patients suffering serious side effects from smoke. It warned that “appropriate and prompt treatment is crucial to reduce morbidity from wildfire smoke.”

Fortunately, there is plenty you can do to minimize the risks, especially before the smoke builds up to dangerous levels.

Your local weather forecast will warn of lowered visibility because of wildfire smoke. Your local health department will issue alerts as smoke covers the region. Your nose and eyes will alert you to danger. Once you have been warned, do all you can to minimize your risk.

Here’s is advice from the CDC on how to stay healthy in a smoky environment:

• If authorities tell you to go inside and stay there, do so. Venture out as little as possible until the stay-home order is lifted.

• Shut windows and doors to keep smoke out. If it is too hot to stay buttoned up inside, check with local authorities on what public shelters are available.

• If you have an air conditioner, run it, but keep the fresh air intake closed and keep the filter clean.

• Run an indoor air purifier if you have one. They sell for under $100 and can be a good investment if you live in an area where wildfire smoke is a frequent threat. You can make your own purifier by putting furnace air filters on the front and back sides of a box fan. Use duct tape or bungee cords to hold the filters in place,

• Don’t add to indoor pollution by uFIRE SEASON, Page 12