SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane reached "hazardous" air conditions for the first time this year.
On Sunday evening, Spokane's air quality fell further and was sitting at 303 as of 6:15 p.m., according to the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency.
Spokane's air quality did reach moderate levels Saturday, but wind has caused more smoke from Canadian wildfires to drift towards the Inland Northwest.
When air quality is in the hazardous range, the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency advises everyone, especially older people and those who are sick, to stay indoors, avoid all strenuous activity, close windows and doors, recirculate your air conditioning and use a HEPA air filter if possible.
Smoke from Canadian wildfires are drifting towards the Inland Northwest.
Smoky skies are also affecting areas in North Idaho, particularly businesses and visitors on Lake Coeur d’Alene on Sunday.
The Scenic Flights Company gives overhead tours of the lake. Noah Lunt, the company’s business operator, said the smoke has kept people from wanting to tour the area.
“Usually, we’ll be running pretty much from about 10:00 to 6:30 nonstop. Today, I’ve only had two flights,” Lunt said.
Many people wore masks as they walked along the shore. Others had to change their outdoor plans.
Once a year Savannah Bartoli and her children travel from Seattle to Coeur d’Alene for the city’s summer activities.
But this year the air quality made them reconsider some of their plans.
“We just wish the smoke would go away, because we were talking about doing parasailing, but I don’t know if we want to do that with the smoke,” she said.
She said she had to closely watch her children and see how they were reacting to the air.
“We talked about renting a boat, as well, but we’re just not able to enjoy it, so there’s really no point,” she said.