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What is the air quality today?
There are a couple ways to easily find out: We really like Fire.AirNow.Gov - this USFS-EPA site shows fires, smoke, and PM2.5 (fine particulate matter and the main pollutant of concern in wildfire smoke) from both permanent monitoring and temporary monitoring locations around the U.S. You can easily turn on (or off layers) and set it for your location. Click on the upper map, right. Today's Air is the Montana site that provides information on hourly levels of PM2.5 across the state. From the MT Dept. of Environmental Quality, this site is also helpful for understanding smoke exposure for Montana communities. Click on the lower map, right. |
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Tomorrow's Air? For the extended seasonal forecast, click HERE.
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Where are the fires?
Click on the image to the right to use the MT DNRC Interactive Wildland Fire Map. This map shows the size and locations of wildfires in Montana, but does not display smoke plumes. Scroll down to view other maps that include wildfire smoke. |
Smoke Sense App
Download the free Smoke Sense App for Android and iPhones. You can use the smoke sense app to learn about wildland fires and smoke health risks in their area, as well as report health symptoms and earn weekly badges. This app uses the same system as Air Now (it calculates AQI and is based on 24 hour averages). 
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no monitor?
If don't live close to air quality monitors, these visibility guidelines may help you gauge local smoke levels. Click HERE to see what the different categories (unhealthy, very unhealthy, hazardous, etc.) mean and how they affect us.
Visibility Guidelines
Cannot see 5 miles? Unhealthy Air
Cannot see 2 miles? Very Unhealthy Air
Cannot see 1 mile? Hazardous Air
How to estimate air quality based on visibility:
Visibility Guidelines
Cannot see 5 miles? Unhealthy Air
Cannot see 2 miles? Very Unhealthy Air
Cannot see 1 mile? Hazardous Air
How to estimate air quality based on visibility:
- Use pre-determined landmarks that were established on a clear day for distances.
- Face away from the sun.
- Determine the limit of your visible range by looking for targets at known distances (miles).
More super helpful and cool maps and resources...
AIR NOW - Air Quality and Forecasts
Air Now provides current and forecasted air quality information for Montana and other states across the U.S. Click on the link and bookmark the nearest town to you. Data is collected by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. Hourly data on this site differs somewhat from Today's Air site because of data averaging.
Air Now provides current and forecasted air quality information for Montana and other states across the U.S. Click on the link and bookmark the nearest town to you. Data is collected by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency. Hourly data on this site differs somewhat from Today's Air site because of data averaging.
Visit the EPA's Smoke Ready Toolbox site for additional resources.
what to do now?
Once you know what the air quality is like in your area, it's important to make decisions that will keep you healthy. Read about the health impacts of wildfire smoke here. Understanding the air outside and your potential health risks is only the first step. You have control over your health impacts. Learn when to exercise and how much, what air purifier to buy, how to ensure you have cleaner air in your home, and what to do if you have to stay outside by clicking through the other pages of this site.