SEATTLE — People are taking steps to protect themselves from all the smoke sitting over Western Washington. According to experts, the air quality gets worse closer to the Cascades.
In Maple Valley, sensors clocked the air pollution at “unhealthy” levels. Smoke was visible through the trees around Lake Wilderness, forcing outdoor events to be canceled or relocated indoors.
“We woke up yesterday and I think everyone in the region saw the smoke in the air,” said Laura Philpot, Maple Valley’s city manager.. “Children are not recommended to be outdoors.”
The city canceled its pickleball league, sent its beach lifeguards and concession workers home and moved as many outdoor events inside as possible, including all summer camps.
The dozens of campers did not seem to mind the change of venue.
“They adapt so easily and our team does such a good job of making it fun for them,” Philpot said.
“You want to do something to reduce your exposure over the course of the day,” Phil Swartzendruber, a scientist with the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency said.
The PSCAA’s sensors reported much of the region’s pollution levels as either unhealthy for sensitive people or unhealthy for the general public.
“For me, even at a level that is not considered unhealthy, just the burning and the scratchy eyes and the irritation of the lungs is enough that I don’t really want to be out there,” Swartzendruber said.
He told KIRO 7 the wind will likely blow the smoke away by Thursday evening.
Philpot said the city is considering moving events later in the week indoors if the smoke does not clear out.