ELLENSBURG, Wash. — Residents in Ellensburg are being warned to stay inside of their homes because the Washington State Department of Ecology said the smoke-filled air is unhealthy.
With the wildfires burning in central Washington, thick smoke has blanketed the area.
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News reporter Essex Porter spoke with residents on how the pollution is affecting the people.
“It’s just like sore throat, runny nose, that kind of thing,” said Ellensburg resident Sarah Orndorff.
One of the local newspapers reported that the air quality is worse than the volcanic ash from Mount St. Helen’s and worse than cigarette smoke.
The wildfire smoke has filled the air and many people have been wearing masks. Residents are advised to not go outside of their homes unless they need to.
“I feel it in my chest, and I have a sore throat, and I have a headache. I have to do chores today, so I’m out in it,” said another resident Genevieve Morrison.
Health professionals warn the smoke is dangerous especially for those already sick with breathing problems.
Many patients have been going to the local medical center all week, and KIRO 7 spoke with Jim Allen, a respiratory therapist.
“The smoke, the particulate matter that's aerosolized from the fire, irritates the lung, and the bronchial tubes that are in the lung become irritated, and they constrict down to make it difficult to move air in and out of the lung,” said Allen.
KIRO 7 spoke with 5-year-old Kiyah Kelly who was has been coughing for days.
“I’ve been coughing a lot and my brother Joey, he’s been coughing a lot for about three days,” said Kiyah.
The Washington State Health Department sent a shipment of masks to Kittitas County on Thursday.
KIRO
