Tips to combat ‘unhealthy’ air from wildfire smoke | King County Emergency Management

Tips to combat ‘unhealthy’ air from wildfire smoke | King County Emergency Management

Stay indoors as much as possible tops list

King County Emergency Management sent out an emergency alert Friday, Sept. 11 with informational links due to wildfire smoke making air quality “unhealthy” to “unhealthy for sensitive groups” expected in the area through early next week.

Smoke from fires can be dangerous for everyone, but there are steps to protect your health:

• Stay indoors as much as possible.

• Limit intense outdoor activity.

• Close windows and doors as much as possible.

• Use an air cleaner with a HEPA filter if possible.

• Use fans or an air conditioner (AC) when it’s hot, if possible. Set your AC to recirculate.

• A DIY air cleaner may be an easy and cost-effective way to clean air inside your home. Information on how to construct a portable air cleaner and important safety tips to follow while using one of these fans can be found at Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s DIY Air Filter website. (https://pscleanair.gov/525/DIY-Air-Filter)

• Don’t pollute the indoor air. Don’t smoke, use candles, or vacuum. Avoid frying and broiling when cooking indoors.

For more information visit:

Puget Sound Clean Air Agency air quality maps (https://secure.pscleanair.org/AirQuality/NetworkMap)

Public Health Seattle- King County health messaging (https://publichealthinsider.com/)


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Northwest

t
Man pleads guilty to 2023 murder in Auburn near Muckleshoot Casino

The defendant was allegedly captured on camera shooting the victim.

t
Auburn man charged with vehicular assault after motorcycle crash in Renton

The man allegedly chased the motorcyclist Dec. 13 before he struck him with his Jeep.

The flooded Cedar River flowing into Lake Washington. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing
Tenants’ rights and resources following floods

Washington state law has protections for tenants.

Photos by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
Try Furoshiki: Japan’s eco-friendly way to wrap gifts

In collaboration with the Seattle Consulate-General of Japan and the King County Library System, local residents learned “Fabulous Furoshiki: A New Twist on an Old Idea” at the Woodinville Library.

The mudslide happened on SR-169 the evening of Tuesday, Dec. 16, and one lane remains closed at Renton Public Works crews work on the scene. Image courtesy of the City of Renton.
Maple Valley Highway near I-405 partially closed due to mudslide

The westbound lane on Maple Valley Highway/SR-169 is closed east of the Renton Community Center.

Courtesy Photo, Renton Police
Renton teen pleads guilty to 2024 fatal shooting

The 17-year-old boy pleaded guilty to a manslaughter incident where he accidentally shot his friend.

A breach in the Desimone levee Dec. 15 along the Green River in Tukwila. COURTESY SCREENSHOT/Video, King County Sheriff’s Office
Army Corps assists King County with Green River levee breach

Reduces water flow from Hanson Dam; provides personnel support; super sacks

Flood waters flow over NE 124th Street at West Snoqualmie Valley Road NE outside Duvall, Dec. 9, 2025. (Grace Gorenflo/Sound Publishing)
Carnation, Duvall isolated due to flood waters

The two towns are at risk of becoming “islands” during flooding.

Jones Road near Cedar River has water of the roadway and filling people’s homes from the record-breaking flood. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing.
Major Cedar River flooding in Renton beats 1990 record

Residents of the Maplewood neighborhood near SR 169 put up sandbags

Floodwater from the Snohomish River partially covers a flood water sign on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Snohomish, Washington. (Sound Publishing photo)
Feds approve WA emergency declaration for record flooding

As rivers began to recede, the federal government on Dec. 12 approved… Continue reading

Courtesy Photo, WSP
Man could face vehicular homicide charge after Auburn SR 167 crash

Bonney Lake man, 29, dies in Dec. 11 collision with semi