Press Release
Public Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Air Quality Conditions Persist in Kittitas County

Kittitas County, WA - 08/21/2018 - Kittitas County continues to experience air quality issues as a result of wildfire smoke and is under an air quality alert until Thursday, August 23. The latest reading from the Washington State Department of Ecology’s (Ecology) monitor in Ellensburg is “unhealthy” air.

There are currently issues with monitors in Ellensburg.  Agencies are aware of the issues and are working to bring monitors back online.  However, in the interim, all other Ecology monitors surround Ellensburg are showing “unhealthy” air levels.
 
Please continue to use extra caution and respond to the current air quality level as “unhealthy.”  The air quality alert is in effect until Thursday, August 23, with no expectation of air quality improving until Friday in Eastern Washington.
 
Please use vetted resources to receive information about wildfires and air quality:
 

• Washington Smoke Blog http://wasmoke.blogspot.com/  contains information about smoke as well as active wildfires.
• National Weather Service http://www.weather.gov/ has weather related alerts, including air quality.
• Washington State Department of Health’s Wildfire Smoke page http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/AirQuality/SmokeFromFires/WildfireSmoke explains the harm of wildfire smoke.

 
The Kittitas County Public Health Department will have more information tomorrow, so please continue as though air quality conditions are “unhealthy” until monitors can be reviewed and back online tomorrow.  During times of “unhealthy” air, please keep children indoors and activity levels light.  If there are athletic or outdoor events, cancel or the move the event to a location with better air quality.
 
KCPHD will work with partner agencies, like Ecology, who oversee monitors in Ellensburg to provide the most accurate air quality data tomorrow morning.
 

• Air Quality Conditions Persist in Kittitas County 8.21.18.pdf

Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us

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Contact: Kasey Knutson, Public Information Officer, 509-962-7515