Stay Informed About Montana’s Air Quality During Fire Season

The Smoke In North Central Montana Has Been Thick Lately

Fire season in Montana can suck. It can take the peak summer days and turn them into a smoky dystopian nightmare. It's crazy because it's nice weather, but it's not safe to breath, so you have to stay in on what could be one of the last nice days of the year.

Read More: See The Awesome New Remodel Planned For Fairmont Hot Springs

I hate it when you go outside and all you can smell and TASTE is campfire. Just how dangerous is all the smoke?

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What Are Some Of The Physical Effects Of Wildfire Smoke? (From The CDC)

• Coughing
• Trouble breathing
• Asthma attacks
• Stinging/Itchy eyes
• Scratchy/Irritated throat
• Runny nose
• Irritated sinuses
• Headaches
• Tiredness
• Chest pain
• Rapid heartbeat

These symptoms are even worse for people with chronic illnesses like:

• Asthma
• COPD
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Heart Disease

Also in the dangerous group are:

• Pregnant women
• Children

What Can You Do To Protect Yourself From Wildfire Smoke?

• Use a HEPA Air filtration unit in your home
• Stay indoors when the air is unhealthy
• Use an N-95 or P-100 mask if you need to be outside for an extended amount of time

Check this chart to gauge how healthy the air is for certain activities:

How Can You Check The Quality Of Your Air?

That's a pretty good question. With all of the government budget cuts to things like this, I don't know if you really want to rely on a .gov site, but here are some that I found:

• Airnow (government)
• IQAir (not government)
• WAQI (not government)

A lot of us have weather apps on our phone that also carry air quality monitors.

Sources: Montana Wildfire Smoke, CDC