Would you like to know how to be ready for “smoke season” in the Methow Valley? Use this checklist, so that you are prepared to protect the health and safety of yourself and your community when the air quality is at unhealthy levels.

During the late summer/early Fall, the Methow Valley can experience days of varying air quality due to the surrounding forest fires that occur during this time of year.  Day-day, the air quality in the valley can vary from “good” to “unhealthy” within a matter of hours.  Methow Valley Schools strive to monitor the air quality on an hourly basis during wildfire seasons and follow the guidelines to ensure healthy levels of activity during times of poor air quality.

In addition, the air quality inside the school buildings is also monitored and actively filtered through a combination of centralized forced air systems and free standing HEPA air cleaning filters

For additional detailed information, please review the follow document MVSD Air Quality and Student Health 2022-2023 [pdf] lays out these procedures and offers insight into how and why they were adopted, as well as providing information regarding steps taken by MVSD to improve indoor air quality during periods when wildfire smoke is an issue.