Weekend workshop provided information on smoke risks and DIY air filters

By Emma Coke, Ashland.news

“It’s the invisible ether around us,” said Sara Jones of wildfire smoke to a crowd of around 20 during a do-it-yourself air filter workshop Saturday morning.

The free workshop, held at the Rogue Valley Metaphysical Library, provided attendees materials to build their own air filters, along with information on Jackson County’s emergency notification system, the Air Quality Index and understanding the health effects from smoke. Jones, community engagement coordinator for Ashland Forest Resiliency, facilitated the workshop. 

The workshop was co-hosted by Ashland Fire & Rescue, Smokewise Ashland, Fire Adapted Ashland, Fire-Adapted Communities Network and the RVML. There were two one-hour sessions Saturday and both were fully booked.

Saturday’s workshop was split 50-50, with the first half reserved for smoke education and the latter half reserved for the building of air filters. Each attendee was provided one box fan and one furnace filter to make their DIY air filters.

Before discussing wildfire smoke, Jones made sure all attendees were registered for Ashland’s emergency alert system. (To sign up for emergency alerts for Ashland, text 97520 to 888777.) 

Then, Jones said, “(Lean) into your feelings about fire so that you can take a deep breath. … This can happen again. Take a deep breath and think through it.”

She emphasized the importance of being prepared to evacuate in a moment’s notice for a wildfire  by signing up for the emergency alert system, knowing your evacuation zone and practicing evacuation. 

“Know the significant throughways through your neighborhood and how you would evacuate, and even practice that,” Jones said. “Practice what you would bring. Practice the time that it takes for you to leave. All of the time leading up to evacuation makes a difference.”

With wildfires comes smoke. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a way of determining the amount of smoke (and other air pollutants) present. To check the current AQI, go to airnow.gov and enter your zip code. 

An AQI of 50 or below is considered good and poses no health risks. According to Jones, when the AQI reaches 100 or higher, it’s best to limit outdoor activities, especially rigorous ones such as running.

When it comes to wildfire smoke, particulate matter (PM) poses the greatest health risk. 

PM10, particles larger than 10 micrometers, causes irritation to eyes, nose and throat. This irritation doesn’t last long. 

PM2.5, particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, are the most dangerous. The small size of PM2.5 allows it to penetrate deep into the lungs and some particles can even enter the bloodstream, according to the EPA. 

Exposure to PM is linked to reduced lung function, asthma, heart attacks, stroke and early death, according to the EPA.

Smoke poses health concerns for everybody, but different factors play into the amount of risk an individual faces. 

“Age is a big factor in who is more impacted by smoke,” Jones said. “So, if you’re over 65 and your lungs have been working all of that time, you have more susceptibility to having damage (from smoke).”

Children and teenagers also are more impacted by smoke because their lungs are developing, Jones said. Those with lung diseases and cardiovascular diseases also face more risk, according to the EPA.

Exposure to PM2.5 has to do with the amount of time exposed, the AQI and the activities engaged in.

“The physical activity that you do does make a difference,” Jones said. “I’ve seen people jogging early in the morning on a smoky day and I’m like, ‘It’s still smoky. I know you can’t see it, but it’s still there.’”

Smoke can even enter into the home. The Jackson County Public Library has an indoor air quality monitor available for guests to check out. 

“You really can’t understand what’s happening in your house unless you measure it during a smoke event,” Jones said. 

Making sure to close all doors and windows and avoiding activities that create smoke or dust, such as vacuuming or burning candles, can help reduce indoor pollution. If your home has an air conditioner, set it to “recirculate” and check the air filter.

Using a DIY air filter or a portable air cleaner can help reduce the amount of PM within the home. Materials for a DIY air filter and the portable air filter itself can be purchased at Ace Hardware, Home Depot, Costco or Amazon. 

“We can do all of these things to reduce our risk (of smoke exposure),” Jones said. “This is still an amazing place to live. I’m not leaving.”

Email Ashland.news reporter intern Emma Coke at emmasuecoke@gmail.com.