It has been heartbreaking to see the devastation of the town of Pateros and other communities in Okanogan County, Washington this week, as viewed in the daily news and the Internet.
Given the fires burning across much of our state, asthmatics may want to pay close attention to their breathing and to any indications of asthma worsening. Remember that smoke can travel long distances, well over 100 miles.
The following website may be of interest: http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5318238.pdf
I personally try to avoid traveling through areas with present or recent wildfires, especially forest fires. The smoke seems to linger, sometimes for days, weeks or longer.
I visited Tucannon, Washington about two or three years after the 2006 forest fire and the area still smelled of smoke, ash, or soot. Because I had been having asthma attacks before that, my lungs, it seems, were particularly sensitive so that I began having tickling in my chest and cough. We had planned to camp but only stayed one night. That was several years ago now.
Please do not plan camping trips or other activities the require driving through areas of fire and smoke with people who have a history of asthma attacks. Smoke has been associated with a number of asthma deaths, so beware, and take the threat seriously. Better safe than sorry.
Smoke from the forest fires from over one hundred of miles away, in Oregon even, have been known to enter the Tri Cities, Washington basin. Let's hope this does not happen this time.
Meanwhile, I feel for those asthmatics and other people with lung diseases who have been living near the fire areas. Okanogan county is beautiful country, so it must be doubly sad for any of those who may have been forced to leave to get away from the smoke, let alone from the fire that destroyed their homes.
Do you have an asthma story to tell? I would be interested to hear about it. Thanks.
Frank
