During periods of intense wildfire smoke, many people discover that finding a place with truly clean air is harder than they expected. To help address that challenge, Climate Smart Glacier has partnered with local community organizations to establish three Clean Air Resource Centers in Flathead County.

Through a grant from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS), these centers will provide residents with access to cleaner indoor air during wildfire smoke events while also serving as community hubs for information and education about smoke preparedness.

The Clean Air Center initiative began last year as a pilot program in Missoula and Ravalli Counties and is now expanding to Flathead and Lincoln Counties, as well as the Blackfeet Nation and Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The goal is to develop a model that can be easily replicated in communities across Montana as wildfire smoke becomes an increasingly common challenge.

In Flathead County, the Gateway Community Center in Kalispell, the Columbia Falls Community Center, and the Whitefish Community Library have partnered with Climate Smart Glacier to serve as Clean Air Resource Centers. These trusted community spaces provide residents with access to cleaner indoor air while also helping educate the public about wildfire smoke and practical ways to reduce exposure.

This effort builds on Climate Smart Glacier’s broader Wildfire Smoke and Health program. Through a partnership with Logan Health, we have distributed nearly 200 HEPA filters to low-income and at-risk residents throughout the Flathead Valley. We have also partnered with the Early Childhood Coalition of Flathead County through the Fire Adapted Communities grant program to provide HEPA filtration systems to local childcare facilities, including Kalispell Head Start, helping ensure cleaner air for some of our community’s youngest and most vulnerable residents during smoke events. The addition of Clean Air Centers expands these efforts beyond individual households, creating public spaces where anyone can find relief during periods of hazardous smoke. 

Many people assume they are protected from smoke simply by going indoors. In reality, homes and buildings without adequate filtration can experience indoor air quality that is nearly as poor as outdoor conditions during prolonged smoke events. That’s why understanding and improving indoor air quality is such an important part of preparing for wildfire smoke.

Each Clean Air Center is equipped with an indoor PurpleAir monitor and is paired with a nearby outdoor monitor, allowing staff and visitors to see in real time how outdoor smoke is affecting indoor air quality and how mitigation efforts are improving conditions inside the building.

Participating facilities also receive a building and HVAC assessment to identify opportunities for reducing smoke infiltration and improving indoor air quality. Strategies can include improving door and window seals, upgrading to MERV-13 or higher furnace filters, reducing outside air intake when appropriate, operating HVAC systems in recirculation mode, and utilizing portable HEPA filtration units designed to remove fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from the air.

Residents can take many of these same steps at home. During smoke events, it is also important to minimize activities that create indoor air pollution, such as burning candles, smoking, vacuuming, or extensive cooking.

As part of this effort, Climate Smart Glacier will host a free demonstration on building a low-cost DIY HEPA box fan air cleaner at the Whitefish Community Library on **June 8 at 5:30 p.m.** These simple filtration systems can significantly improve indoor air quality and provide an affordable option for households looking to reduce smoke exposure.

The goal of the Clean Air Center program is simple: ensure that every resident has access to cleaner air during wildfire smoke events while increasing awareness of practical steps that can reduce exposure at home, work, and school. By combining public education, real-time air quality monitoring, and accessible community spaces, these centers help build a healthier and more resilient Flathead Valley.

Whether you visit a Clean Air Center during a smoke event, attend a preparedness workshop, or make improvements to your own home, every step taken before the smoke arrives helps protect the health of our families, neighbors, and community.