Contact: Suzanne Skadowski, EPA Public Affairs, 206-553-2160, skadowski.suzanne@epa.gov

(Seattle – Thursday, August 25, 2022) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10, in coordination with the Nisqually Indian Tribe, has issued an air quality advisory on the Nisqually Reservation due to the elevated pollution levels caused by a brush fire south of the reservation near the town of Rainier. Weather forecasts indicate poor air quality will continue through Friday with a return to good air quality on Saturday.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) may reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) level. Sensitive groups should avoid outdoor exercise and minimize exposure to outdoor pollution as much as possible. As pollution levels increase, the EPA recommends that residents restrict activity and use N95 masks.

Air pollution can harm health and may have lasting effects. To protect vulnerable people, EPA requests that reservation residents reduce all sources of air pollution, such as automobile exhaust, as much as possible. People who are at greater risk from the effects of smoke include those with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, and pregnant people.

To keep levels of smoke as low as possible indoors, create a clean room. A clean room may be most helpful for sensitive people.

Air quality conditions are influenced by factors such as wind, temperature, and time of day, as well as the location, size, and control strategy for regional wildfires. EPA scientists use weather forecasts, satellite pictures, fire incident reports, and air quality models to forecast air quality for tribal communities and predict when burn bans should be declared.    

To check conditions in your area, go to https://fire.airnow.gov/.  For current burn ban status on tribal lands, please call the EPA FARR Hotline at 1-800-424-4372, or visit  

https://www.epa.gov/farr/burn-bans-indian-reservations-id-or-and-wa#current-bans. For burning restrictions in areas outside reservation boundaries, please contact your local clean air agency or fire department. For smoke and fire information in Washington visit https://enviwa.ecology.wa.gov/home/text/426#BurnBans.