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Old 09-15-2020, 10:18 AM
 
53 posts, read 127,845 times
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How bad is the smoke in Bonner & Boundary counties? My wife and I have a trip planned at the end of the month. I know conditions could be a lot worst or better by that time but was wondering how it looks now. We have had this trip planned for almost a year but thinking we might want to wait to next year(?). Is there a web site that would let us know up to date conditions?
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Old 09-15-2020, 10:41 AM
 
Location: Idaho
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rlw366 View Post
How bad is the smoke in Bonner & Boundary counties? My wife and I have a trip planned at the end of the month. I know conditions could be a lot worst or better by that time but was wondering how it looks now. We have had this trip planned for almost a year but thinking we might want to wait to next year(?). Is there a web site that would let us know up to date conditions?
An application I just downloaded yesterday to my iPhone is called "EPA AIRNow". Once installed, you add cities, (i.e., Bonners Ferry). Have no idea if the application is available for Android phones.

Smoke is supposed to blow out later this week . . . I hope. Dogs don't understand why we are not going for our lengthy walks in the forest or along the lake shore.

p.s. Just added "Bonners Ferry", and currently, it lists the "Current Air Quality" as "257 Very Unhealthy". Coeur d'Alene is currently at "212", also "Very Unhealthy".
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Old 09-15-2020, 12:13 PM
 
Location: North Idaho
726 posts, read 329,690 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rlw366 View Post
How bad is the smoke in Bonner & Boundary counties? ... was wondering how it looks now.
Well, right now it's bad in the Sandpoint area, but there's two weeks between now and the end of the month. The forecast for this coming Friday is "showers likely," a 70% chance. That should help quite a bit. Still, predictions are difficult, especially about the future.
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Old 09-19-2020, 09:19 AM
 
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Originally Posted by Cavalry_Chief View Post
Ironically, I see more people in North Idaho wearing masks now.
To be effect against smoke it would have to be equivalent to a 3M 8516 N92 mask. The mask people are wearing for protection against Covid-19 will not work. Smoke is significantly smaller and will go right through the surgical style masks.
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Old 09-19-2020, 09:45 AM
 
Location: Idaho
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The smoke is GONE! At least most of it. Rained a bit last night and I can see the mountain again out my window.

p.s. AQI currently shows 76, (Moderate), for Coeur d'Alene with a forecast of 50, (good), tomorrow and Monday.
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Last edited by volosong; 09-19-2020 at 10:57 AM..
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Old 09-19-2020, 11:21 AM
 
Location: North Idaho
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Originally Posted by volosong View Post
The smoke is GONE!

Yes! A good rain came through. For a while, the visibility didn't change, but that was apparently due to the heavy rain. Now it has passed through, I can see the other side of the lake! Wow!
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Old 09-19-2020, 12:44 PM
 
Location: North Idaho
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Originally Posted by zed42 View Post
To be effect against smoke it would have to be equivalent to a 3M 8516 N92 mask. The mask people are wearing for protection against Covid-19 will not work. Smoke is significantly smaller and will go right through the surgical style masks.
Actually, the reverse is true.

The COVID virus is 60-140 nano-meters in diameter.

The composition of particulates from wildfire smoke is complex since the smallest particles tend to "clump" together. Even so, the smallest particles are about 500 nano-meters in diameter, so roughly 5 times larger than the COVID virus. These smallest smoke particles tend to clump together in sizes up to 2.5 micro-meters (2,500 nm). As a general rule wildfire smoke is characterized as Pm 2.5, meaning particulate matter less than 2.5 micro-meters in diameter.

Dave
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Old 09-19-2020, 02:32 PM
 
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Originally Posted by Cnynrat View Post
Actually, the reverse is true.

The COVID virus is 60-140 nano-meters in diameter.

The composition of particulates from wildfire smoke is complex since the smallest particles tend to "clump" together. Even so, the smallest particles are about 500 nano-meters in diameter, so roughly 5 times larger than the COVID virus. These smallest smoke particles tend to clump together in sizes up to 2.5 micro-meters (2,500 nm). As a general rule wildfire smoke is characterized as Pm 2.5, meaning particulate matter less than 2.5 micro-meters in diameter.

Dave
https://clark.wa.gov/sites/default/f..._Factsheet.pdf
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Old 09-19-2020, 03:09 PM
 
Location: North Idaho
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zed42 View Post
The fact sheet says nothing about the relative particle size of COVID vs. smoke.

It does say that N95 masks may filter the particulates in smoke, but not the gasses. Unless you are in close proximity to the fire, the real health risk from smoke is from the particulate matter which can damage your lung tissue. The gases dissipate quickly with distance from the fire.

Dave
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Old 09-20-2020, 06:00 AM
 
3,782 posts, read 4,257,107 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cnynrat View Post
The fact sheet says nothing about the relative particle size of COVID vs. smoke.

It does say that N95 masks may filter the particulates in smoke, but not the gasses. Unless you are in close proximity to the fire, the real health risk from smoke is from the particulate matter which can damage your lung tissue. The gases dissipate quickly with distance from the fire.

Dave
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