News & Notices

Spring isn’t here yet, but it’s time to think about next heating season. If you heat with wood, now is the time prepare your firewood, if you haven’t already done so.

After decades of air quality improvement due to the Clean Air Act of 1970 and other regulations since, the Western U.S. is experiencing an increase in the number of days with extremely high levels of two key types of air pollutants, UCLA study shows. Read more…

Typically, the temperature of air in the atmosphere cools with gains in altitude. But temperature inversions demonstrate that this isn\’t always the case.

Did you smell smoke in the air this morning? You were right. Smoke from multiple prescribed fires in the region accumulated under an inversion layer (caused by high pressure system). This has resulted in the fine particulate (PM-2.5) levels this morning in the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups/Orange on the Air Quality Index (AQI). Poor ventilation…

The heating season is here and we are offering grant funds to offset the costs for homeowners to replace their old wood burning stoves and fireplace inserts with new wood, pellet, or gas devices as well as mini-split “ductless” heat pumps. “This grant can help people replace their inefficient, smoky, old wood stoves,” said Lisa…

Spokane typically doesn’t see wildfire smoke until mid-August. In 2021, however, wildfires began peppering the landscape in our region early. By the end of this year’s wildfire season, Spokane experienced eight exceedances of the health-based standard set by EPA for Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and three exceedances for ground-level ozone pollution. The highest daily AQI…

From U.S. EPA, Science Matters, published Sept. 20, 2021: Science has shown the benefits of exercise or physical activity. But what about exercising outside when there is high air pollution, such as smoke from a wildfire or ozone during a hot and sunny day? EPA researchers are working to improve knowledge about the relationship between…

As wildfire smoke continues to cloud our air, it’s important to know where to get reliable, accurate air quality data that corresponds to national, health-based standards. With the influx of air quality apps and various scales of calculation, you may be wondering where to turn. Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency (Spokane Clean Air) uses seven…