Vancouver, Wash. – Public Health officials are urging people to take precautions when air quality is poor and temperatures remain high.

Smoke from widespread wildfires has cause air quality to deterioriate, and residents should be alert to local fire danger from excessively dry conditions, wind and heat.

Smoky air can cause eye, nose and throat irritation and a range of respiratory problems. It can also aggravate existing lung, heart and circulatory conditions such as asthma and angina.

People should avoid physical exertion outdoors if the air is smoky. People with asthma or other lung diseases should follow their medical management plans and stay indoors. They should consider leaving the area or spending time in an air-conditioned cooling center if their homes lack air conditioning and it is too hot to keep windows and doors closed. 

“To prevent problems from heat and smoke, we encourage people to avoid or limit physical activity outdoors, take shelter in air-conditioned buildings, and drink plenty of fluids,” said Dr. Alan Melnick, Clark County health officer. “Elderly people and the very young are especially vulnerable during periods of intense or prolonged heat. Don’t forget your pets.”

Public libraries, shopping malls and cinemas are some of the places people can go to escape the heat and smoke. Some other air-conditioned spots in Clark County are listed below.

Vancouver
Fort Vancouver Regional Library
To locate library branches and their hours, visit http://www.fvrl.org/hours-locations.

Firstenburg Tower at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center
400 N.E. Mother Joseph Place
360.514.2000
Hours: Friday, Sept. 1 - Tuesday, Sept. 5, 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Water Resources Education Center
4600 S.E. Columbia Way
360.487.7111
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday noon-5 p.m.

Marshall Community Center
1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd.
360.487.7100
Hours: Monday-Thursday 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 5:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Firstenburg Community Center
700 N.E. 136th Ave.
360.487.7001
Hours: Monday-Thursday 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday 5:30 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday noon-6 p.m.

Washougal
Washougal City Hall 
1701 C St.
360.835.8501
Hours: Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Washougal Community Center
1681 C St.
Hours: Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Friday 4 p.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 1 p.m.-6 p.m.

Vancouver Parks and Recreation offers an interactive map for locating parks with drinking fountains at http://www.cityofvancouver.us/parksites.

More information on cooling centers is available at http://cresa911.org/2017/07/31/cooling-center-locations/ and http://211info.org/emergency. 

More information about protecting yourself from smoky air: http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/AirQuality/SmokeFromFires/WildfireSmoke

More information on hot weather safety: http://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/BePreparedBeSafe/SevereWeatherandNaturalDisasters/HotWeatherSafety

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CONTACT
Alan Melnick
Health Officer
Public Health
360.397.8412
alan.melnick@clark.wa.gov