Wildfire Smoke Prompts Clean Air Pop-Up Events in Flathead Valley
Climate Smart Glacier Country will host a series of open houses Aug. 24-27 at three newly designated Clean Air Centers in Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Whitefish
By Tristan Scott
With wildfire smoke blanketing the Flathead Valley again this summer, three communities are opening their doors to show residents where — and how — they can find cleaner air.
Climate Smart Glacier Country (CSG) will host a series of open houses, or “pop-up events,” Aug. 24-27 at three newly designated Clean Air Centers in Kalispell, Columbia Falls and Whitefish, highlighting public spaces where people can escape smoke and heat while learning how to protect their families from poor air quality.
This summer, the three centers upgraded their air filtration systems in partnership with CSG and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. The facilities, which are generally open to the public, now double as information hubs on indoor air quality.
The events will offer refreshments, kid-friendly activities and guidance on home solutions for smoky conditions. Attendees can also enter a drawing for a free household HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter.
The schedule:
- Monday, Aug. 24, 2-6 p.m. — Columbia Falls Community Center, 205 Nucleus Ave.
- Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2-6 p.m. — Kalispell Gateway Community Center, 1203 U.S. Highway 2 West
- Thursday, Aug. 27, 2-6 p.m. — Whitefish Community Library, 9 Spokane Ave.
Indoor air quality at the three centers is monitored and updated in real time at map.purpleair.com, which also tracks nearby outdoor conditions. Direct links to each center’s readings are posted at climatesmartglaciercountry.org/clean-air-centers.
“Wildfire smoke can affect your health even when the fire is hundreds of miles away,” said Kate McMahon, a volunteer who coordinates CSG’s Wildfire and Health initiative. “Staying indoors doesn’t necessarily mean you’re breathing clean air. During periods of heavy smoke, indoor air can become nearly as polluted as outdoor air if your home or building does not have adequate filtration.”
The organization’s website also walks residents through building a do-it-yourself air filter from a box fan, upgrading an HVAC system to filter out smoke particles, and what to look for when buying a stand-alone HEPA unit.
Since 2020, CSG has distributed more than 200 HEPA filters to low-income households with health vulnerabilities, funded by community donations and distributed in partnership with Logan Health and the Community Action Partnership of Northwest Montana. The organization also supports air quality assessments, monitoring and filtration upgrades at child care facilities, including Head Start sites, through the Early Childhood Coalition of Flathead Valley.
“Climate Smart Glacier Country serves as a community catalyst to tackle emerging challenges that otherwise haven’t received much attention,” said Steve Thompson, the organization’s chairman. “As a volunteer-driven organization, we work with diverse community partners to make a difference.”
CSG describes its mission as fostering community resilience against the effects of a changing climate — including hotter summers, growing wildfire and flood risk, and increasingly extreme weather — by building partnerships and empowering residents to develop local solutions.
The Wildfire and Health program is supported by the Whitefish Community Foundation, Nelson Ace Hardware, Glacier Bank, Whitefish Credit Union, Schellinger Construction, Target, and Don “K” Subaru. Businesses and individuals interested in supporting at-risk households or CSG’s indoor clean air program can reach the organization at [email protected].