When to expect the smoke blanket over Spokane to leave the area

SPOKANE, Wash. — Thick smoke blanketed the Spokane region Thursday as a fire burning north of Bonners Ferry sent smoke to the Inland Northwest.

The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency identified Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake as experiencing the worst conditions. They also tracked a lot of smoke over the South Hill.

As of Thursday, the Air Quality Index registered at a moderate level, a slight improvement from earlier in the day when it had reached the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category. the agency says although we are at a moderate level, they still recommend people stay indoors and away from the smoke, until Friday morning. People with asthma, heart, or lung problems should remain inside until air quality improves to a ‘good’ level.

“It should be improving quite a bit by tonight. So all day tomorrow [Friday], I would expect good air quality,” said Mark Rowe, air monitoring manager for the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency.

For those who are concerned with running their air conditioners in their homes with smoky air outside, they share a tip. Setting air conditioning units to recirculate air rather than drawing from outside can prevent smoky air from entering homes and keep your filter from getting dirty quicker.

The agency expects winds that have been blowing the smoke into the region to shift overnight, clearing the smoke out of Spokane and Kootenai County by Friday.