Smoke, caution, and confidence as Wenatchee Valley manages a hazy stretch

WENATCHEE — The valley has worn a gray shawl for the past month, with smoke from the Lower Sugarloaf and Labor Mountain fires drifting over town and the Air Quality Index (AQI) spiking at times during the day. As this is written, the AQI sits at 163, which is considered “unhealthy,” but is projected to drop during the day and into the teens overnight. It has been as high as 256 at its apex this year. That’s bad, but certainly not as bad as it’s been some years.

The fire season started late, which surprised many, with such a mild winter in 2024 and low precipitation. But lightning strikes at the beginning of September were like a tolling bell for residents of the Wenatchee Valley and beyond. Fire crews are gaining ground and containment is improving — a reminder that this is a season and seasons pass — but for now the air demands respect.

Confluence Health reports no dramatic surge in respiratory cases so far this fire season. That’s not luck; it’s preparation. “Typically during fire season when it is smoky and the air quality has been poor for a large number of days, we often will see an increase in people presenting to the ER or their provider with respiratory issues, such as increased symptoms for chronic conditions like emphysema or asthma, or some people with breathing issues compounded by the bad air,” said Mark Eyre, respiratory clinical manager at Confluence Health.

“Thankfully, we have not seen as much of an uptick this year in these sorts of patient care needs, likely due to many of our patients with respiratory care needs taking precautions and following previous recommendations,” he said, noting that people are ”using N95 masks when they must go outside, avoiding strenuous or prolonged exposure outside when the air reaches unhealthy levels, or using filters to better indoor air quality.”

That tracks with what you can see around town — runners swapping trail miles for treadmill time, parents timing playground trips for clearer windows, some folks wearing N95s for errands. Eyre credits that steady, learned caution. “By using what they have learned from previous times of bad air quality, we’ve seen a lot of people proactively keeping themselves healthier and safer despite the challenges we’ve had this fire season.”

For those at higher risk, like people with asthma or COPD, young children, pregnant people, and older adults, the guidance is straightforward and worth repeating. Keep rescue inhalers and daily medications close at hand and up to date. Limit time outdoors when the AQI reads unhealthy; if you need to be outside, keep exertion light and use a well-fitting N95. Indoors, close windows and doors, set HVAC systems to recirculate, and use a portable HEPA filter or a MERV-13 (or higher) furnace filter if your system allows it. Creating a single “clean-air room” at home can make the difference on the worst afternoons. If symptoms flare — coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, shortness of breath — call your provider.

Eyre emphasized that Confluence Health is ready if conditions change. “Though we are happy to not have the increase in respiratory care needs that we thought we might see given the smoke, we are still keeping vigilant and prepared at Confluence Health so that we will be able to respond and have the staff needed to care for the patients who need us should things change.”

The outlook is steady and realistic. Firefighters will keep banking containment and the wind will shift — the air will clear again. Until then, Wenatchee Valley residents can do what they’ve already shown they’re good at: Take the smoke seriously, take care of one another, and keep the common-sense habits that have helped us breathe easier through this smoky stretch.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media