FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18, 2019

MEDIA CONTACTS
Tanisha Jumper, Media and Communications, tjumper@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5152

Megan Snow, Media and Communications, msnow@cityoftacoma.org, (253) 591-5051

Smoke Ready Communities Day Raises Awareness

The City of Tacoma will join the City of Seattle, Pierce County, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and more than 12 cities, counties and governmental agencies from around the region in an effort to help educate residents on how to prepare for wildfire smoke events this summer during Smoke Ready Communities Day on Wednesday, June 19.

Wildfire smoke reduces visibility and creates outdoor air quality issues that can affect people’s health. Women who are pregnant, children and the elderly, and those who have respiratory issues like asthma, COPD, people who smoke, have disabilities, or heart or circulatory problems are more at risk. During Wildfire Smoke Season, follow these steps to protect your health in the haze:

• Talk with your health care provider if you have respiratory or circulatory illnesses about air quality issues and how to protect yourself.

• If you have shortness of breath, wheezing, chest pain, heart palpitations, extreme fatigue or difficulty moving, contact your healthcare provider immediately or call 911.

• If you have questions about lung health, managing asthma or allergies or for air quality issues you can call the American Lung Association’s Lung HelpLine at 1-800-LUNGUSA (586-4872) Monday through Friday 9 AM to 5 PM and Weekends 9 AM to 5 

• For more information about how to protect your or your family’s health visit the Washington State Department of Health.

• Follow the suggested activity guidelines from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency issues air quality burn bans based on air quality levels. To find out if there is an air quality-related burn ban, visit Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. 

Washington State has experienced over 300 fires so far in 2019, with half of them occurring in Western Washington. Based on current drought and forest conditions, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources believes we may see a record number of wildfires in 2019.

The County Fire Marshal issues Fire Safety Burn Ban. 

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