Wildfire Smoke & Health

Seeking Clean Air: Addressing the Wildfire and Health Challenge

Established in 2020, the Wildfire and Health project provides clean indoor air to people with health conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to wildfire smoke. This includes education, outreach and partnerships to distribute HEPA filters to households and Child Care providers as well as to create 3 Clean Air Centers in the county as a place of respite from intense wildfire smoke.

Vulnerable members of our community suffer when wildfire smoke fills the valley.  We partner with health care providers to provide HEPA air filters to low-income, vulnerable households. We also are partnering with state and local agencies to establish public Clean Air Centers that will provide clean, cool air for public use during the hot, wildfire smoke season.

Due to hotter and drier weather resulting from a changing climate, Western Montana is experiencing more frequent wildfires and smokey days.   When smoke from wildfires pollutes the air, we all suffer, especially the most vulnerable in our population – the very young and old.   Since 2020, Climate Smart Glacier Country (CSGC) has been working with partners to reduce the health impacts of poor air quality from wildfire smoke.

Smoke includes small particulate matter, PM 2.5, that makes breathing more difficult. This can be a life-threatening issue for those with respiratory illnesses, allergies, or heart conditions. To help those in need, Climate Smart Glacier has been securing funding to purchase air filters for the purpose of donating them to low-income households.   The Flathead County Health Department and Logan Health Medical Center have been partners in this endeavor. To date, almost 200 air filters have been distributed.

The CSGC clean-air project has also included education and outreach activities

 to increase awareness about reducing health risks from wildfire smoke.  Recently, CSGC received a Smoke Ready Communities grant to expand educational

 efforts and to pilot clean-air improvements for Child-care facilities. This funding will allow for the purchase of air monitors and classroom size air-filters for up to two Child-care facilities that serve low-income families. The experience gained from these pilot projects can be a model for providing clean air to infants and toddlers that are particularly vulnerable to wildfire smoke pollutants due to developing respiratory systems.

Additionally, CSG has been coordinating with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) to facilitate the development of 3 Clean Air Centers in Flathead County.   This project entails identifying 3 potential sites for upgraded HVAC systems that will be open to the public during periods of poor air quality. DPHHS has piloted this program in Missoula and Ravalli counties and is seeking to expand it to other parts of western Montana. 

 

2025 Accomplishments

  • Partnered with Logan Health to distribute HEPA Filters to low-income at-risk households.
  • Received grant from Smoke Adapted Communities for outreach and child-care pilot.
  • Joined the Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network.
  • MOU with Headstart to provide filters for classrooms as part of childcare pilot.

 

2026 Projects

  • Continue to partner with Logan Health to distribute HEPA filters.
  • Finish work on childcare pilot, publish case study and secure funding to expand.
  • Enter contract with Montana Dept. of Public Health and Human Services to establish 3-clean air centers, organize HVAC training and conduct outreach.
  • Collaborate with FireSafe Flathead on outreach efforts.
  • Follow-up support and case study on clean air centers.

 

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