SmokeReadyUtah provides support for underserved urban and rural communities to handle wildfire smoke. This program provides indoor and outdoor air quality monitoring along with enhanced health messaging and targeted interventions, providing communities and schools with the information they need to minimize their exposure to wildfire smoke.
The project will be completed in March 2027 and updates will be shared here and in our SmokeReadyUtah newsletter as they become available.
Our other neighborhood air projects
Our team is committed to a community-engaged approach. Interested community members can get involved by attending community meetings and presentations, and hosting air quality sensors at schools.
Schools
Interested schools can host air quality sensors and will receive educational materials and modules.
Community members
Community members can be involved by participating in community events and meetings, and hosting air quality sensors at schools.
Educators
Wildfire smoke preparedness materials and educational modules will be available for use by educators, school building managers and other interested community members.
Sign up if you are interested in hosting a sensor or participating in any of these activities.
Upcoming Community Events
September 7 – Clear the Air Fair
August 3 – 2024 Utah Pacific Island Heritage Month Kickoff
Project background
Wildfire activity in the Western US, including Utah, has significantly increased over recent decades. As the frequency, intensity and duration of wildfires continue to increase, communities in Utah downwind of wildfire-prone areas are at increased risk of harmful exposure to wildfire smoke. This smoke is a complex mixture of air pollutants, including CO2 and PM2.5.
This project aims to reduce this risk in underserved rural and urban communities in Utah by improving health messaging, increasing community outreach, enhancing air pollution monitoring, and distributing air cleaners and high-efficiency filters. It is a collaborative effort involving the Utah Division of Air Quality, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Utah Clean Air Partnership (UCAIR), the University of Utah (Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Department of Chemical Engineering) and Snow College (Chemistry Department).
Project components
Sensor deployment
PM2.5 and CO2 low-cost AirU sensors will be deployed at indoor and outdoor locations at approximately 40 public schools to evaluate how the air quality inside schools changes during wildfire smoke events. CO2 measurements help us understand if there is enough indoor ventilation in the school. PM2.5 measurements help assess how much the wildfire smoke comes inside the school.
Air quality alerts and maps
Using location-specific outdoor PM2.5 sensor measurements, community members and school building managers can view real-time air quality maps, or sign up for location-specific air quality alerts.
Distribution of air cleaners and filters
We will distribute portable air cleaners and high-efficiency air filters to public schools and preschools located in impacted communities. Soon there will be a web-based application where schools in certain areas can request replacement filters and portable air cleaners.
Ventilation system interventions and guidance development
We will provide recommendations for operating HVAC systems during wildfire episodes. This information will also be used to develop guidance for improving indoor air quality in schools during wildfire events.
Recommendations for public health action
Strategies to reduce wildfire smoke exposure will be provided, with a focus on protecting at-risk groups (e.g., the elderly, outdoor workers). These strategies will include actions to be taken both during and before a wildfire event.
Community engagement
Throughout the project, we will engage community members through a series of activities:
- Community events and presentations
- We will organize community presentations at and participate in local community events to disseminate health education materials and distribute air filtration devices, purifiers and box fan air cleaners in the target areas.
- Educational modules
- Educational modules are currently in development, created by the University of Utah Chemical Engineering Department’s award-winning outreach program. Find examples of their teaching modules here.
- Smoke preparedness materials
- Classroom visits
Do you live in an impacted community?
Interactive map coming soon!
Increased access to air quality information
Real-time, accurate and localized ambient PM2.5 and CO2 measurements will be available through maps and instant air-quality alerts. This data will be easily accessible for underserved urban and rural communities as well as school building managers.
Wildfire smoke preparedness materials
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services is raising awareness by developing health education materials on the health effects of smoke exposure. This includes best practices for reducing exposure (e.g., using high-efficiency filters) during wildfire smoke episodes. Find existing smoke preparedness materials here.
Educational modules and classroom visits
Activity-centered teaching modules with detailed lesson plans on particulate pollution will be developed to increase community awareness on local air quality. These modules will cover the air quality impact on indoor environments, the challenges of achieving air quality, and related health effects. School instructors can use these modules in the classroom when teaching about air quality.
Classroom visits will also be organized to present the educational modules.
Community engagement and education
SmokeReadyUtah is available for community presentations and participation in local community events to disseminate health education materials and distribute air filtration devices, purifiers and box fan air cleaners in the target areas.