Tool Box: Strategies to Protect your Health When Smoke is in the Air
Resources:These websites assist in informing you about wildfire occurrences, smoke incidents and what to do to protect your family’s health.
Check Prescribed Fire and Wildfire Incidents
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov Shows current wildfire locations on a map.
https://www.wildfiresnearme.wfmrda.com/site/login WildfiresNearMe: sends notifications for wildfire incidents within a defined perimeter.
http://azdeq.gov/SmokeManagemet Lists all approved prescribed burns on a given day and AZ Dept. of Environmental Quality’s oversight of smoke.
http://www.azfireinfo.az.gov AZ Interagency Wildfire Prevention and Information.
http://smoke.azdeq.gov AZ Dept. of Environmental Quality prescribed fire approved burns.
Emergency Notification
http://coconino.az.gov/207/EMERGENCY-MANAGEMENT Sign up for Coconino County emergency notifications (if you live outside of Coconino County, check your County’s website for information).
Check Forests’ Alerts, Notices and Closures
https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/coconino/alerts-notices–For the Coconino National Forest.
Smoke Notifications and Complaints
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/coconino/home/?cid=stelprd3843012&width=full– For the Coconino National Forest.
City of Flagstaff Fire Department: If you or a family member is smoke sensitive, call the Flagstaff Fire Department at 928-213-2500. They will notify you when prescribed fires are planned within the City boundary.
Check Air Quality:
https://www.epa.gov/air-research/smoke-sense-study-citizen-science-project-using-mobile-app EPA Smoke Sense App – Provides air quality information and tips to protect your health when it is smoky outside.
https://airnow.gov Providesthe Air Quality Index (AQI) that tells you how clean or polluted your outdoor air is. The AQI translates air quality data into numbers and colors that help people understand when to take action to protect their health.
http://www.enviroflash.info Sends daily air quality forecast by email or text to anyone who signs up.
https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/aqi_brochure_02_14.pdf Air Quality Index – A Guide to Air Quality and Your Health.
https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/flag/school-chart-2014.pdf Air Quality andOutdoor Activity Guidance for Schools.
http://tools.airfire.org/monitoring Access to air quality monitoring data from both publicly available permanent monitoring sites as well as temporary monitoring sites setup during wildland fire incidents.
http://www.wildlandfiresmoke.net/ Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program –helps analyze the data from emergency monitors.
https://www.epa.gov/outdoor-air-quality-data Has current information about state monitoring networks and may have data archives.
www.phoenixvis.net/PPMmain.aspx Access toADEQ portable particulate monitor data.
Resource for Businesses:
http://www.ashlandchamber.com/files/SmokePreparationWorkbookOnline.pdf Business Resiliency Workbook for Smoke Preparedness.
Health Risks and Improving Your Health During Wildfire Smoke Events
https://www.pehsu.net/_Library/facts/wildfire_acute_2011_parents_comm.pdf Information on Health Risks of Wildfires for Children Guidance for Parents and Community Members – Acute phase.
https://www3.epa.gov/airnow/wildfire_may2016.pdf “Wildfire Smoke A Guide for Public Health Officials.”
https://www.airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=topics.smoke_wildfires_faqs Wildfire Smoke Frequently Asked Questions.
https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=smoke.index How Smoke from Fires Can Affect Your Health.
https://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/Emergency/WildFires.htm Wildfires: Information for Pregnant Women and Parents of Young Infants.
http://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/outdoor/emergencies-and-natural-disasters/wildfires.html Resources for those with lung disease.
https://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/acdsumm.pdf Air Cleaning Devices for the Home.
https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-air-purifier/ The Best Air Purifier.
http://www.bepreparedcalifornia.ca.gov/ResourcesAndLinks/Languages/Documents/English/ENG_ProtectLungsSmoke7208color.pdf Choose the correct mask to protect your lungs.
https://vimeo.com/257185210 How to Fit a NIOSH N95 Adult Mask.
https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5318238.pdf Wildfire Smoke and Your Health– U.S. Forest Service.