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| |  | Volunteer firefighters practicing with a live burn during a wildfire training course in Brewster. (David Ryder/Getty Images) |
| Prepare for Hottest Day of the Year, Smoke Season | It’s getting way too hot in here. Today is expected to be the warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures likely reaching the upper 80s for the Puget Sound region. With warming temperatures comes an increased risk of fire, and the National Weather Service is advising caution around dry grass and dead vegetation. Here’s what you can do to prepare for smoke season. [Seattle Times] | - 🧯 Impacts to smoke season: This past winter and spring were much warmer and drier than usual across the Pacific Northwest, leading to record-low snowpack and early melting. These conditions have set the stage for an early and potentially severe wildfire season in parts of Washington. The developing El Niño event is also expected to bring windier weather, which further increases the potential for wildfires. [Washington Smoke Blog]
- ⌛ The 2021 heatwave was “a wake-up call”: More than 400 people died across the state that summer as a result of the triple-digit heat wave, and over 630 wildfires were reported as of July that year. The following year, King County officials said that preparing for heat is a “growing priority.” [KUOW; AP News]
- ✅ How to stay prepared: According to Washington Smoke Blog, follow the S-M-O-K-E steps: Stay informed, minimize exposure, optimize your air, keep a plan, and ease your mind. Vulnerable populations are at higher risk of smoke-related irritation and should limit time outdoors and physical activity during periods of wildfire smoke. Learn about the air quality index, and gather supplies such as air cleaners, HVAC filters, masks, and more. Here’s how you can make your own box fan filter. Joining forces with your community can go a long way in managing stress and anxiety. Check out this resource on coping with the stress of wildfire smoke.
- 🥵 Will this heat last forever?! Things will start to feel cooler by tomorrow, and Thursday’s forecast is expected to bring temperatures in the upper 60s. Plus, our good ole pal rain could make a comeback this weekend.
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| What Seattle’s Talking About |
|  | The Nippon Dynawave Packaging facility following the fatal chemical storage tank implosion on May 26. (Mathieu Lewis-Rolland/Getty Images) |
| 🐟 Chemical spill affects fish: Authorities have determined that last month’s chemical spill from the Nippon Dynawave Packaging pulp mill in Longview, which killed 11 workers, has also killed nearly 2,000 fish, all of which are common freshwater fish. The industrial spill resulted from the release of a caustic liquid through a storm drain and a ditch connected to a drainage network. [Seattle Times] | | 🏗️ Warehouse could replace water park: Wild Waves Theme and Water Park in Federal Way could be demolished if the proposed Panattoni Project Podium is approved, which would build an over 1-million-square-foot warehouse in its place by 2028. Community members have criticized the proposal, saying a warehouse can’t replace what a water park provided families. Wild Waves announced last year that they’re ceasing operations this November. [KING 5] | | 🐦 Local bird population declining: Seattle’s bird populations and diversity have dropped sharply since 2005, mainly due to habitat loss and climate change, according to a new study. Although these findings reflect trends across the U.S., local experts say this has major implications for facilitating a connection between communities and nature, but habitat conservation and restoration work can help reverse the trend. [KUOW] |
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Thanks for reading! Stay cool out there today. |
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