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Washington State University
Washington State University Office of the Provost

A note to faculty regarding wildfires and air quality

Dear WSU faculty members,

The wildfires throughout the area, and the resulting poor air quality, may have an effect on you and our students.

Please provide flexibility to students whose health may be affected, may need to consult with their health care providers, or may have to miss class to fight fires or assist with evacuation efforts. You may receive notifications from the Office of the Dean of Students regarding these students, or students may contact you themselves. Please call the Office of the Dean of Students at 509-335-5757, if you have questions about accommodating students who may be absent due to the fires.

Here are some resources and best practices for dealing with the effects of poor air quality in our region:

  • Stay inside as much as possible, especially if you have a medical condition. Most University buildings are filtering air. WSU Facilities Services is doing what they can to reduce the amount of smoke in building ventilation systems, replacing building air filters and reducing the amount of outdoor air intake where possible.
  • Use public transportation rather than walking or biking.
  • Check with Health and Wellness Services or your health care provider prior to wearing a mask if you have health conditions such as heart or lung diseases.
  • See the Wildfire and Air Quality FAQ from WSU’s Office of Human Resources.
  • Visit WSU Environmental Health & Safety’s Wildfire Smoke page for more information and links to resources, including the Health Effects Index (Washington Air Quality Advisory), which outlines precautions to take during poor air quality times.
  • If you have questions, please call Environmental Health & Safety at 509-335-3041, your regional campus Environmental Health & Safety office, or your local health department.

Thank you for your understanding and for helping us share these messages with our students.

Sincerely,

Erica Austin and Ron Mittelhammer
Interim Co–Provosts