The Longview commercial fire spread smoke across SW Washington, lowering air quality in Clark County

The decline in air quality is likely to continue, however, according to the Southwest Clean Air Agency, which issued an air pollution advisory Wednesday morning for increased fine particulate pollution through Friday due to the burning fires.

The advisory says the smoke can cause a variety of health problems, including chest pain, rapid heartbeat, coughing, sore eyes, asthma attacks, breathing problems, irritated sinuses and headaches. It advises that sensitive groups be careful, including children, the elderly, and people who are pregnant, have heart or lung issues (such as asthma and COPD), or who have had a stroke.

The precautions, which will also apply if the region is hit by wildfire smoke this summer, include:

• Stay indoors if possible.
• Limit outdoor physical activity, such as running, cycling, physical work and sports.
• Close windows, if possible, to keep indoor air clean. People with air conditioners should use the “recirculation” switch. Use an indoor air filter if available.
• People without air conditioners at home should consider finding a public place with clean, air-conditioned indoor air such as a public library or community center.
• Avoid driving, if possible. While driving, the windows are closed. When using the car’s fan or air conditioning, make sure the system recirculates air from inside the car; do not draw air from outside.
• Schools and day care providers should consider delaying outdoor activities or moving them indoors.
• An N95 or N100-rated mask can help protect some people from air pollution. These masks are commonly available at hardware and home improvement stores. Check with a doctor to see if this is right for you.

The Longview fire isn’t the only plume contributing to the area’s bad air. A four-alarm fire at a former Kmart at Northeast 122nd and Sandy Boulevard in Portland put out a plume of smoke that could be seen in the distance. The fire started around 6:30 on Wednesday morning and took several hours to be brought under control.