Air Quality Preps

[Angie_nrs]

I wonder how those affected in the smoke zones are wishing they had more air purifiers? From what I understand many folks from the northwest across now to the northeast and midwest are experiencing terrible air quality due to massive forest fires up north. Apparently many brick and mortar stores are sold out of the sacred purifiers. The purifier shelves there look like the TP shelves of 2020.

I guess one needs to prioritize and think about the basics first. I'd put air at #1. Even though many would never have thought air quality could be so bad in rural areas will now have to reassess that. For those with purifiers.....do they have extra filters? Do they work like they should? Have they been tested in smoky conditions? If it got bad enough, I suppose gas masks or even the filtered masks that painters use would be better than nothing but I'm not sure they filter smoke?

I have an air purifier in my basement that I used to use when my friend smoked many years ago. So, I know it worked to clear smoke. I'm going to have to dig that out and see if it still works. I can't imagine why it wouldn't, but I never really considered it to be a 'prepping' tool per se'. I also have a couple of cans of canned O2 called boost put away in my medical storage. Just thinking out loud regarding something that I take for granted every single day........clean AIR.

 

[MountainTrapper]

Forest fires and smoke is just a fact of life out here. We don't do anything different. We've been lucky so far this year, only a couple days of light smoke.

 

[Cidertom]

When the fires hit Oregon a few years ago, I dug into the filter stuff for some friends that had had lung issues. The particulate is the biggest thing, as the fires, unless up close and personal, don't effect the Oxygen levels. Yes, CO2 and CO increased, but by themselves not in the hazardous levels. Electrostatic filtering did great, but.... with the levels we were experiencing the grates had to be cleaned every couple of days. Pretty much requiring a second set of grates. 0.3 micron forced air filters did the best, and even the 1 micron filters helped. Yes, they had to have regular maintenance as well, and required replacement filters. While fairly noisy the best bang for the dollar,at that time, was stand alone 'shop' filters. One couple who both had lung issues I helped rig two filters, First was outside air through a 5 micron filter into their garage and a second with 0.3 micron followed by activated charcoal filter that took that air and pressurized their house with clean air. Had to bypass the built in times on both units to keep them running. each filter, as I remember was about U$200. Some people just kept the filter running in the house and let it recirculate the air.

 

[Angie_nrs]

Some places are getting a type of chemical smoke. Symptoms being reported are similar to typical forest fire smoke, but also add in more intensive burning in the eyes and throat with increased coughing and sneezing and a stinging feeling on the lips. Those who already have lung issues will clearly be affected the most. Since this is so widespread, I wonder what the long term effects of this will be.

 

[dademoss]

We have a high efficiency whole house filter, an Aprilaire 413. We have a couple of stand alone units also:

(Honeywell HEPA Air Purifier for Home),​

with spare filters.
If it's really bad, I have 3m masks with both P100, and organic gas cartridges.​

 

[tiredretired]

Help is on the way. I get it, some of this is unavoidable, but some of it isn't and the part that isn't needs to be addressed. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources spends a fair amount of money on forest management and works with land owners to address trouble spots and potential trouble areas. Fire breaks, access roads, controlled burns. People need to get their shit together and stop being a bunch of incompetent give a fuck assholes when it comes to public safety.

Mark Carney Deflects Blame on Canada Wildfire Failures: 'Climate Change Is Everyone's Responsibility'

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney dismissed that his government could be doing more to contain the wildfires ravaging Ontario.

www.breitbart.com

 

[MountainTrapper]

When we get heavy smoke here we just shut the windows and turn the ceiling fans on. There's nothing else we can do. I still work outside doing whatever needs doing. Nothing changes for us. Yep, our eyes, nose and throat burns, but it usually only lasts a couple months. I kinda enjoy seeing the easterners piss and moan about getting a little smoke. We usually deal with it every summer.

 

[m1west]

Anyone else notice that all the fires happen in demon rat strongholds for the most part

 

[MountainTrapper]

Anyone else notice that all the fires happen in demon rat strongholds for the most part

Not here, no democrat ran areas in this state. Fires start because it's hot and dry, happens every summer. A lot of our fires start from dry lightning or from heavy equipment operating in dry grass or in the woods. We had a fire a couple days ago just a few miles south of town that was started by a landowner doing dirt work with his dozer.

 

[waybomb]

Well, just like that. The wind came out of the south and the smoke is gone here in SW Michigan. I can see the other side of the river clearly! Woohoo.

 

[rice paddy daddy]

Anyone else notice that all the fires happen in demon rat strongholds for the most part

The recent fires just across the border in Georgia that burned thousands of acres was not in a liberal stronghold.
Nor was the smaller one within two miles of our farm.

And when a fire starts in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Preserve there sure aren't any liberals out there. The gators ate all the Yankee tourists.
The eastern edge of the Okefenok is just a couple air miles from us, and when lightning starts a fire the National Wildlife Service just lets it burn. That's natures way of regenerating the swamps and forests.
A couple years ago ash was falling on our roof like snow and visibility in town was measured in yards.

Just life in the boondocks. No big deal. Improvise, adapt, and overcome.

 

[Doc]

My daughter shared these pics with us.

 

[Doc]

A few more.

 

[Angie_nrs]

When we get heavy smoke here we just shut the windows and turn the ceiling fans on. There's nothing else we can do. I still work outside doing whatever needs doing. Nothing changes for us. Yep, our eyes, nose and throat burns, but it usually only lasts a couple months. I kinda enjoy seeing the easterners piss and moan about getting a little smoke. We usually deal with it every summer.

Do you have an air purifier?

Not trying to downplay your issues (and I don't envy yours at all).....but I think this is something a bit different. When air quality standards peg the historical chart, then there is a huge reason for concern, especially in heavily populated areas where this has never been an issue before.

 

[MountainTrapper]

Do you have an air purifier?

Not trying to downplay your issues (and I don't envy yours at all).....but I think this is something a bit different. When air quality standards peg the historical chart, then there is a huge reason for concern, especially in heavily populated areas where this has never been an issue before.

I live off grid and dont have extra power for things like air purifiers. I don't pay attention to the "experts" and their charts either. I can easily see for myself when the smoke is thick like fog and everything is covered in soot and ash. Fortunately this year we've only had a few days of minor smoke. But we're a long way from the end of fire season too. A couple years ago the Forest Service did a controlled burn around 3 sides of our property. Of course the fire got away from them and burned several places within our property. The smoke was thick like fog for a couple months.

 

[Angie_nrs]

I live off grid and dont have extra power for things like air purifiers. I don't pay attention to the "experts" and their charts either. I can easily see for myself when the smoke is thick like fog and everything is covered in soot and ash. Fortunately this year we've only had a few days of minor smoke. But we're a long way from the end of fire season too. A couple years ago the Forest Service did a controlled burn around 3 sides of our property. Of course the fire got away from them and burned several places within our property. The smoke was thick like fog for a couple months.

I think I remember you mentioning that at the 'other place'. That must've been stressful. Hopefully it made your place a little more safe from fire for a few years.

Fire is my biggest concern as we are surrounded with forest. However, we do have rivers and lakes close by so that helps a bit. And we also have an excellent fire department within 5 miles so we are lucky there.

I'm not much for believing the 'experts' myself. However, I have my own verified information on this incident and can say that I've never in all my years experienced such terrible air quality. It's just not something we have ever dealt with (on this scale) in our little corner of the world.

With the smoke situation......it certainly could be worse. The people that are suffering with the smoke at least don't have to worry about the fire consuming their homes as that is far far away. But, just b/c it could be worse doen't mean it's not bad.

I'm old enough to remember when Mt. St. Helens erupted. This situation is not nearly as awful as that was. Some people had to evacuate and couldn't return for a very long time. I don't think even an air purifier would have made much difference there. So, yeah it certainly could be worse. Still, I will be adding another purifier or two to my stash.

 

[MountainTrapper]

We're having a thunder storm right now. No rain, just dry lightning. Dry lightning is what causes most of our fires around here. I can see a little smoke to our west. Our weather usually comes out of the west but these clouds are coming up from the south.
Our fire protection is by the Forest Service about 20 miles away.

Still getting a lot of thunder but not a drop of rain yet.

 

[m1west]

The recent fires just across the border in Georgia that burned thousands of acres was not in a liberal stronghold.
Nor was the smaller one within two miles of our farm.

And when a fire starts in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Preserve there sure aren't any liberals out there. The gators ate all the Yankee tourists.
The eastern edge of the Okefenok is just a couple air miles from us, and when lightning starts a fire the National Wildlife Service just lets it burn. That's natures way of regenerating the swamps and forests.
A couple years ago ash was falling on our roof like snow and visibility in town was measured in yards.

Just life in the boondocks. No big deal. Improvise, adapt, and overcome.

Pretty sure Ca, Co and Canada are liberal strongholds. And that just let it burn policy is BS, in 2020 a fire started by lightening about 30 miles from my cabin. They did the let it burn for 3 weeks until it was threatening Susanville Ca. Before they did anything , me and all my cabin neighbors lost buildings and a lot of the trees, all it would have took is the red fire retardant dumped on the mountain peak, it burned down hill to us and would have been easy to put out in advance if they wanted to.

 

[rice paddy daddy]

Pretty sure Ca, Co and Canada are liberal strongholds. And that just let it burn policy is BS, in 2020 a fire started by lightening about 30 miles from my cabin. They did the let it burn for 3 weeks until it was threatening Susanville Ca. Before they did anything , me and all my cabin neighbors lost buildings and a lot of the trees, all it would have took is the red fire retardant dumped on the mountain peak, it burned down hill to us and would have been easy to put out in advance if they wanted to.

No one lives in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.
When a fire starts, it is only controlled around the perimeter.
The rest is allowed to burn.
8 or 10 years ago it did escape and burn private woods to the north, no structures were threatened but since the timberland was important to the paper mills airplanes were used.

Remember - the rest of the country is not like California, and most certainly The South is not.

 

[MountainTrapper]

When it comes to federal lands, state lines and politics don't matter. Certain areas have different policies. Some areas that policy is to let it burn. Many areas out west are too rugged to fight fires in, so its allowed to burn itself out. Other areas fires are fought only when the fire is threatening homes. This isn't about state politics. National Forests and BLM are federal lands and fall under federal policy. Most big fires are finally put out by weather, no matter how many resources are thrown at it.

 

[m1west]

The recent fires just across the border in Georgia that burned thousands of acres was not in a liberal stronghold.
Nor was the smaller one within two miles of our farm.

And when a fire starts in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Preserve there sure aren't any liberals out there. The gators ate all the Yankee tourists.
The eastern edge of the Okefenok is just a couple air miles from us, and when lightning starts a fire the National Wildlife Service just lets it burn. That's natures way of regenerating the swamps and forests.
A couple years ago ash was falling on our roof like snow and visibility in town was measured in yards.

Just life in the boondocks. No big deal. Improvise, adapt, and overcome.

Pretty sure Ca, Co and Canada are liberal strongholds. And that just let it burn policy is BS, in 2020 a fire started by lightening about 30 miles from my cabin. They did the let it burn for 3 weeks until it was threatening Susanville Ca. Before they did anything , me and all my cabin neighbors lost buildings and a lot of the trees, all it would have took is the red fire retardant dumped on the mountain peak, it burned down hill to us and would have been easy to put out in advance if they wanted to

When it comes to federal lands, state lines and politics don't matter. Certain areas have different policies. Someha tareas that policy is to let it burn. Many areas out west are too rugged to fight fires in, so it’s allowed to burn itself out. Other areas fires are fought only when the fire is threatening homes. This isn't about state politics. National Forests and BLM are federal lands and fall under federal policy. Most big fires are finally put out by weather, no matter how many resources are thrown at it.

i think I remember Trump addressing the let it burn policy and instructing the new head of the forest service to abandon that and put the fires out, let it burn is a stupid policy that burns up a lot of private property that would not have happened otherwise. Even there controlled burns get out of control, the best policy would to let loggers log and cattle and goats graze, but one might step on a endangerd Lizard, everyone k owns when they let it all burn up, it never burns up any of the animals and doesn’t destroy the whole habitat for everything.

 

[m1west]

The recent fires just across the border in Georgia that burned thousands of acres was not in a liberal stronghold.
Nor was the smaller one within two miles of our farm.

And when a fire starts in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Preserve there sure aren't any liberals out there. The gators ate all the Yankee tourists.
The eastern edge of the Okefenok is just a couple air miles from us, and when lightning starts a fire the National Wildlife Service just lets it burn. That's natures way of regenerating the swamps and forests.
A couple years ago ash was falling on our roof like snow and visibility in town was measured in yards.

Just life in the boondocks. No big deal. Improvise, adapt, and overcome.

Pretty sure Ca, Co and Canada are liberal strongholds. And that just let it burn policy is BS, in 2020 a fire started by lightening about 30 miles from my cabin. They did the let it burn for 3 weeks until it was threatening Susanville Ca. Before they did anything , me and all my cabin neighbors lost buildings and a lot of the trees, all it would have took is the red fire retardant dumped on the mountain peak, it burned down hill to us and would have been easy to put out in advance if they wanted to

When it comes to federal lands, state lines and politics don't matter. Certain areas have different policies. Someha tareas that policy is to let it burn. Many areas out west are too rugged to fight fires in, so it’s allowed to burn itself out. Other areas fires are fought only when the fire is threatening homes. This isn't about state politics. National Forests and BLM are federal lands and fall under federal policy. Most big fires are finally put out by weather, no matter how many resources are thrown at it.

i think I remember Trump addressing the let it burn policy and instructing the new head of the forest service to abandon that and put the fires out, let it burn is a stupid policy that burns up a lot of private property that would not have happened otherwise. Even there controlled burns get out of control, the best policy would to let loggers log and cattle and goats graze, but one might step on a endangerd Lizard, but everyone knows when they let it all burn up, it never burns up any of the animals and doesn’t destroy the whole habitat for everything.

 

[Melensdad]

High quality furnace/AC filters solve the problems indoors. Literally no big deal if you stay inside. Modest outdoor exposure is not an issue for healthy people. Extensive outdoor exposure can be problematic for even the healthy but an N95 mask is more than enough. The smoke particulate is fairly large so probably even a simple surgical mask is enough

When I took Kobe South to see the Union Pacific Big Boy we had clean air. But at home we had air you can taste and smell. No outside play for him at home, he was a pre-me baby born by a drug abuser, his lungs were under developed so we are extra careful with him.

Rain today, 1.2” fell here and cleaned the air, even if temporarily. Glad I can’t taste it! But I’ve got N95 and serious respirators if necessary

 

[MountainTrapper]

Pretty sure Ca, Co and Canada are liberal strongholds. And that just let it burn policy is BS, in 2020 a fire started by lightening about 30 miles from my cabin. They did the let it burn for 3 weeks until it was threatening Susanville Ca. Before they did anything , me and all my cabin neighbors lost buildings and a lot of the trees, all it would have took is the red fire retardant dumped on the mountain peak, it burned down hill to us and would have been easy to put out in advance if they wanted to

i think I remember Trump addressing the let it burn policy and instructing the new head of the forest service to abandon that and put the fires out, let it burn is a stupid policy that burns up a lot of private property that would not have happened otherwise. Even there controlled burns get out of control, the best policy would to let loggers log and cattle and goats graze, but one might step on a endangerd Lizard, but everyone knows when they let it all burn up, it never burns up any of the animals and doesn’t destroy the whole habitat for everything.

They are logging and grazing the land, and mining. They are cutting a massive amount of timber around my area. Cattle are grazing 100% of the land around here. My land is completely surrounded by mining claims. Most of the areas where the "let it burn" policies are in remote, rugged and roadless areas. I for one don't want to see a GD going everywhere. Much of the areas around here would be impossible to put a road in.
I know all about controlled burns getting out of hand. My ranch is 100% surrounded by National Forest. They did a controlled burn on 3 sides of our place. Of course it burned in to our place inna few areas.
I really don't know where all this BS is coming from about no logging, no mining, no grazing. It's all doing well everywhere I go. Of course I never have any reason or desire to go anywhere outside of the 3 states bordering my state.

 

[Angie_nrs]

High quality furnace/AC filters solve the problems indoors. Literally no big deal if you stay inside.

There are a lot of folks up north (myself included) who don't have central air. A couple of window units are all we really need but they don't filter outside air very well. That's usually not a problem but it was last week.

I went to Home Depot when the smoke was bad and there was a haze in the store. They had idiot employees who had left the huge contractor door open. The air conditioner and filters couldn't keep up with that.

I really don't know where all this BS is coming from about no logging, no mining, no grazing.

The tree huggers can't see the long term view. They don't want their precious trees cut b/c they give us oxygen and are good for the planet. They can't see that thinning out the trees gives us the wood we need to make products such as the TP they use and the homes they live in. They also can't see into the future far enough to see what happens when you don't thin out the forests. I wonder how much of the wildfire smoke they have to breathe in for them to now see how important it is to manage the forests? Will they finally see that the trees can either add oxygen or take it away in the form of the smoke they are experiencing now?

 

[MountainTrapper]

There are a lot of folks up north (myself included) who don't have central air. A couple of window units are all we really need but they don't filter outside air very well. That's usually not a problem but it was last week.

I went to Home Depot when the smoke was bad and there was a haze in the store. They had idiot employees who had left the huge contractor door open. The air conditioner and filters couldn't keep up with that.


The tree huggers can't see the long term view. They don't want their precious trees cut b/c they give us oxygen and are good for the planet. They can't see that thinning out the trees gives us the wood we need to make products such as the TP they use and the homes they live in. They also can't see into the future far enough to see what happens when you don't thin out the forests. I wonder how much of the wildfire smoke they have to breathe in for them to now see how important it is to manage the forests? Will they finally see that the trees can either add oxygen or take it away in the form of the smoke they are experiencing now?

Thinning the timber, or selective cutting is one thing, but clear cutting is another. I am completely opposed to clear cuts. Around here the the Forest Service does a good job setting up timber sales. They always require some trees to be left. On the other hand, our State lands get clear cut. That leads to erosion and landslides. They never get replanted and only brush will grow there.

 

[bczoom]

A couple of window units are all we really need but they don't filter outside air very well.

For those with a window air conditioner, make sure you set the tab so that it's in recirculate mode. On mine, it's a little push (recirc) or pull (fresh air) tab just below the vent where the air comes out into the room.

 

[MountainTrapper]

We normally only use AC a few days in August. For us it's not as simple as pushing a button for AC. Since we're off grid, I need to bring a separate generator down to the house and plug the heat pump in to it. Then I can set our thermostat to whatever temp we want. Until then we shut our windows when the inside temps match the outside temps, then turn our ceiling fans on.
It's very smokey here today. I'm coughing more and have a scratchy throat. The outside work still needs to get done. Forest fires and smoke is just a normal part of summer, it's guaranteed.

 

[rice paddy daddy]

Thinning the timber, or selective cutting is one thing, but clear cutting is another. I am completely opposed to clear cuts. Around here the the Forest Service does a good job setting up timber sales. They always require some trees to be left. On the other hand, our State lands get clear cut. That leads to erosion and landslides. They never get replanted and only brush will grow there.

In large areas of North Florida pulpwood pine is a renewable resource, planted like corn. To make paper products.
Hundreds of acres in any given area will be clear cut, the debris pushed up into piles to dry for a year or two and then burned.
The land will then be disc'd into rows and seedlings planted. After 15 years or so, the process is repeated.
In our area the paper mill makes liner board, from which cardboard boxes are made.

Our land was part of a tree farm, when we bought it was all 12 year old planted pine. Planted 12X6. Rows 12 feet apart with a tree every 6 feet.
We cleared about two acres all around where the house would go in case of wildfires. We were planning ahead 30 years ago.

 

[MountainTrapper]

In large areas of North Florida pulpwood pine is a renewable resource, planted like corn. To make paper products.
Hundreds of acres in any given area will be clear cut, the debris pushed up into piles to dry for a year or two and then burned.
The land will then be disc'd into rows and seedlings planted. After 15 years or so, the process is repeated.
In our area the paper mill makes liner board, from which cardboard boxes are made.

Our land was part of a tree farm, when we bought it was all 12 year old planted pine. Planted 12X6. Rows 12 feet apart with a tree every 6 feet.
We cleared about two acres all around where the house would go in case of wildfires. We were planning ahead 30 years ago.

Tree farms like that work on relatively flat ground with long growing seasons. We have very steep ground here with short growing seasons, little rainfall, and very little private land. Back when I was logging, occasionally I would count the rings on some logs. Many were 200+ years old. I think in some parts of the country it's possible to get a pine saw log in 30 years or less, and even less for a pulp log. Of course pine makes for poor structural lumber.
Down in the desert south of me, some farmers cleared thousands of acres of brush, laser leveled the land, set up irrigation systems and planted fast growing popular trees. It works in some areas.