Health Department extends mandatory wood burning restriction due to air pollution from wildfire smoke

Health Department extends mandatory wood burning restriction due to air pollution from wildfire smoke for second day

Updated Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023

Multnomah County continued its mandatory ban on woodburning for a second day today. The ban, which went into effect on Saturday, Aug. 26, will continue through the weekend.

Smoke from wildfires in the Pacific Northwest is blanketing the Portland Metro area, leading health officials today, Aug. 26, 2023, to issue a mandatory wood burning restriction for residents in Multnomah County. The restriction comes alongside the Multnomah County Fire Defense Board issued burn bans for fire safety. Recreational fires, agricultural burning, and backyard burning are not allowed. These restrictions do not apply to cooking. Exemptions are available for those in emergency situations.

The County’s air quality burn restriction will be lifted when conditions improve. Air quality advisories are posted at multco.us/woodsmokestatus. Conditions are expected to improve later next week.

This is the sixth warm season wood-burning restriction – also called a red day – since the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners extended the County’s wood smoke curtailment ordinance year-round in February 2022, and the first this year due to wildfire smoke and particle pollution. The others have been due to ozone pollution levels on hot days.

People at risk

• People at the greatest risk of complications from smoke exposure include pregnant women, children, people with pre-existing heart disease, people with chronic lung disease, and older individuals.
• People who work outdoors are also at elevated risk. For those who must work, wear a properly fitted N95-rated mask and take breaks inside a structure or even in your car.

What you should do

• Avoid spending time outside, and avoid strenuous exercise outdoors.
• If available, set AC to recirculate, use an air cleaner with a HEPA filter, or build your own DIY air cleaner.
• Avoid being on the roads if visibility worsens.

Keep an eye on air quality near you:

When air quality improves (yellow or green AQI), even temporarily, air out your home to reduce indoor air pollution. People in homes that are too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, or who are at-risk of smoke-related health effects, should seek shelter elsewhere.

Know the symptoms

The symptoms of wildfire smoke most reported include scratchy throat, stinging or watery eyes, stuffy nose, sinus irritation, coughing, trouble breathing, and tiredness or dizziness.

Mild symptoms of smoke exposure often include:

• Cough
• Headache
• Burning eyes
• Sore throat
• Phlegm production
• Changes in breathing

Dry cough, sore throat, and difficulty breathing are common to both wildfire smoke exposure and COVID-19. Contact your doctor if you believe you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.

But smoke exposure can also cause serious and life-threatening respiratory distress, including heart attacks and strokes. If you’re in distress, you should immediately dial 9-1-1.

Gauging air quality

Wildfires and smoke have swept the West Coast. Some air quality monitors may have lost power. Air quality web systems may periodically get overwhelmed by traffic, causing web-based maps to slow or fail to load. To find air quality information visit:

• Oregon Smoke Blog: Local, state, tribal and federal organizations coordinate to share information about wildfires and smoke.
• Oregon Air Quality map: The state Department of Environmental Quality updates a map of current air quality. Due to high traffic, the site can slow or crash. The sites below offer good alternatives.
• EPA Air Quality map: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pulls real-time air quality data from Oregon and Washington States.
• State of Oregon Fires Map: The Oregon Office of Emergency Management updates a map of active fires, air quality and closures.

Visibility

If you can’t access AQI information, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality shares this 5-3-1 visibility index to help estimate smoke levels:

• Five miles: air quality is generally good.
• Three to five miles: air quality is unhealthy for young children, older adults, pregnant women, and people with heart or lung disease, asthma or other respiratory illness.
• Less than three miles: air quality is unhealthy for everyone.
• Less than one mile: the air quality is unhealthy for everyone.

Your body

Healthy people affected by smoke may have only mild symptoms. But healthy people may also have underlying health conditions that put them at risk. Listen to your body’s cues:

If your eyes are burning, if your throat is sore, if your lungs are having a hard time expanding, if you are coughing, stay inside and focus on creating a “Clean Room” where the air is as clean as possible.

Wood Burning Violations

To report a fire and get it extinguished, call 911. To report a suspected violation of a mandatory burn restriction and smoke

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

This SDG is addressed as the article discusses the health impacts of air pollution from wildfire smoke on residents in Multnomah County. It highlights the need for a mandatory wood burning restriction to reduce exposure to fine particulate matter and protect community health.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

This SDG is connected as the article mentions the wood burning restriction as part of the efforts by Multnomah County to reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities. It specifically focuses on air quality and the need to address pollution caused by wood burning.

SDG 13: Climate Action

This SDG is connected as the article discusses the link between human-caused climate change and the exposure to wildfire smoke and elevated ground-level ozone. It emphasizes the need to strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards, such as wildfires.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and contamination

This target is relevant as the article highlights the health risks associated with exposure to fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke. The mandatory wood burning restriction aims to reduce air pollution and protect residents from respiratory issues and other adverse health effects.

Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management

This target is relevant as the article discusses the wood burning restriction as a measure to address air quality in Multnomah County. It emphasizes the need to reduce the adverse environmental impact of cities, particularly in relation to air pollution.

Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

This target is relevant as the article highlights the connection between human-caused climate change and the occurrence of wildfires, leading to exposure to wildfire smoke. Strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards, such as wildfires, is crucial to protect communities and their health.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions the Air Quality Index (AQI) as an indicator to measure progress towards the identified targets. The AQI provides information about air quality conditions and can help assess the level of pollution and its impact on public health. Monitoring the AQI allows for tracking progress in reducing air pollution and improving air quality.

4. Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: multco.us

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.