Ft. Bend County OEM - Wildfire Smoke in FBC (Post: homes, live)

[Sampaguita]

Wildfire Smoke in Fort Bend County
Smoke from wildfires throughout Texas affecting air quality
Posted September 8, 2011 9:26:19 AM CDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The smoke and haze you see in the air over Fort Bend County is from the
wildfires elsewhere in the state. There are currently no immediately threatening
wildfires in Fort Bend County.
Citizens of Fort Bend County should not be alarmed by the smoke or haze;
however, at the same time, citizens should be cognizant of the extreme fire
danger that exists in our area at this time.
Precautionary/Preparedness Actions
State health officials urge people to reduce their risk from wildfire smoke by
taking the following precautions:
* Stay indoors or limit outdoor activities as much as possible.
* Avoid physical exertion.
* Keep windows and doors of your home shut.
* If you have air conditioning, run it with the fresh-air intake closed. Set
wall units to “re-circulate.”
* Reduce other sources of indoor air pollution, such as cigarette smoking,
burning candles, frying food and using aerosol products or fireplaces.
* Do not use vacuum cleaners which can stir up dust already inside your home.
* Keep your airways moist by drinking plenty of water.
* Consider leaving the area or going to a shelter until smoke conditions
improve.
* Common symptoms of smoke exposure include coughing, scratchy throat,
irritated sinuses, shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches, stinging eyes and
runny nose.
People should seek medical help if they have symptoms that worsen or become
severe. Those without air conditioning should watch for signs of heat exhaustion
such as fatigue, nausea, headache and vomiting.

View this document online
Fort Bend County
FBC Office of Emergency Management
Wildfire Smoke in Fort Bend County | FBC Office of Emergency Management (http://www.fbcoem.org/go/doc/1528/1188619/ - broken link)

[Topaz]

The smoke is making it hard to breathe!

[slnt]

The smoke was especially awful this morning. In the course of a few minutes this morning, it went from okay to breathe with a slight bit of eye irratation to unbreatheable and eyes burning. I first thought there were fires near-by. Apparently, this was caused by the fires in Montgomery County.

Doing the rain dance here so we can get these fires put out and no one else loses their homes, businesses or lives!