Climate change will bring hotter summers and longer wildfire seasons, both of which can negatively impact human health and stress our agriculture, business, and healthcare sectors.

​Agricultural and outdoor workers, low-income residents, those with pre-existing conditions, and those living in substandard housing are most at risk.

What can we do to prepare and build resiliency? 

Improve indoor air quality of homes, public buildings, and commercial spaces. 

• Missoula County co-hosted our first-ever Wildfire Smoke Ready Week in July 2021 with a variety of partners to help residents prepare for wildfire smoke events. 
• Climate Smart Missoula worked with All Nations Health Center, Missoula Food Bank, North Missoula Community Development Corporation, and Partnership Health Center to distribute portable air cleaners for free or at a reduced cost to low-income Missoulians during 2021 summer. 
• Missoula City-County Health Department is studying indoor air quality of our large commercial spaces and working to integrate ASHRAE's Planning Framework for Protecting Commercial Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire Events (and Missoula's Tom Javins is a lead author!)

DETAILED Strategies from plan

Strategy	Status	More Information
Educate Missoula County residents about options to create safe indoor air.	UNDERWAY	Detailed strategy update.
Make portable air cleaners more accessible.	​UNDERWAY	Detailed strategy update.
Develop voluntary measures and incentives, such as a certification program for clean air buildings, to encourage safe indoor air in public buildings, schools, and businesses.	NOT INITIATED	Detailed strategy update.
Find, develop and promote indoor recreation, exercise and creative activity spaces that are available to individuals and recreational programs that are accessible to all income levels.	PRE-PLANNING	Detailed strategy update.

Improve health and safety of outdoor workers during heat and wildfire smoke events. 

• Missoula City-County Health Department and Climate Smart Missoula developed guidance for agricultural and construction workers during wildfire smoke events. 
• Missoula County, Community Food and Agriculture Coalition, and Climate Smart Missoula distributed educational materials directly to farmers via CFAC events and Missoula Farmer's Markets. 
• Missoula County and City of Missoula are working to distribute educational materials via the building permit process. 

DETAILED Strategies from plan

Strategy	Status	More Information
Encourage employers to change workplace environment to reduce wildfire smoke and heat exposure.	PRE-PLANNING	Detailed strategy update.

Increase awareness of physical and mental health impacts of wildfire smoke, heat, and their intersection. 

• MontanaWildfireSmoke.org has over 100,000 unique visitors during the summer of 2021. 
• New partnerships result in radio ads across the community to help people prepare for wildfire smoke. 
• Stay safe during wildfire smoke jingle hits the airwaves. 

DETAILED Strategies from plan

Strategy	Status	More Information
Conduct an educational campaign about air quality data, health risks of wildfire smoke, connection between smoke and heat, and activity guidelines.	UNDERWAY	Detailed strategy update.
Collaborate with healthcare providers to develop and promote wildfire smoke exposure checklist; educate providers who are unaware.	​UNDERWAY	Detailed strategy update.
Encourage healthcare providers to work with sensitive subgroups to reduce controllable exposures and have a plan in place before wildfire smoke arrives.	IMPLEMENTING IN NEAR TERM	Detailed strategy update.
Coordinate education efforts to consider best health practices during concurrent heat and smoke events.	​​UNDERWAY	Detailed strategy update.
Conduct an educational campaign about the prevention of and signs of heat related illness for the most vulnerable populations.	PRE-PLANNING	Detailed strategy update.
Conduct an educational campaign for healthcare, public safety, and emergency response communities about the connection between heat and aggression.	NOT INITIATED	Detailed strategy update.

Increase healthcare system capacity to respond to climate impacts. 

• Community based groups working to develop a climate change and mental health training open to everyone (coming soon).
• Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate push to educate and engage healthcare professionals across the state.  

DETAILED Strategies from plan

Strategy	Status	More Information
Assess existing mental health resources and increase as needed, scalable to smoke events.	IMPLEMENTING IN NEAR TERM	Detailed strategy update.

FULL LIST OF WILDFIRE SMOKE, HEAT, AND HEALTH STRATEGIES

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NEWS

Wildfire Smoke Ready Week brings together partners from across the community to prepare our community for wildfire smoke

Community partners, led by Climate Smart Missoula, collaborate to distribute portable air cleaners to those most in need.

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Resources & Working Group Members

RESOURCES

Watch: Prepare for Wildfire Smoke

Watch: Prepare for Extreme Heat

Read: Climate Change and Human Health Report

Click: Montana Wildfire Smoke Comprehensive Website

montanawildfiresmoke.org

working group members

Amy Cilimburg, Climate Smart Missoula
Sarah Coefield, Missoula City-County Health Department
​Rebecca Elderkin, All Nations Health Center
Donna Gaukler, City of Missoula Parks and Recreation
Caroline Lauer, Missoula County
​Eric Legvold, United Way of Missoula County
Diana Maneta, Missoula County
Beth Schenk, Providence St. Patrick Hospital
Amber Sherrill, Missoula City Council Member
Dave Strohmaier, Missoula County Commissioner
Shannon Therriault, Missoula City-County Health Department

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If you would like to receive more information or would like to apply to join the working group, contact Caroline Lauer. ​

QUESTIONS? EMAIL CAROLINE.