How do Treasure Valley residents perceive smoke?

Last summer, researchers at Boise State University did a survey of Treasure Valley residents about how they get their smoke information and how they feel about it. They presented the information to us at the end of the wildfire season and I think it would be helpful to share it with everyone out there as summer begins.

Wildfires have been on trend to get bigger and more damaging every year and as anyone in the West knows, fires come with massive amounts of smoke that disrupt our idyllic way of life here. The BSU researchers asked residents about their perception of the risk of wildfire smoke and their personal responses to the hazard. About 2/3 of respondents altered their outdoor activity plans based on forecasted smoke impacts. The majority of those that REDUCED their outdoor plans did so when air quality reached “orange” (unhealthy for sensitive groups) in the Air Quality Index. It took level “red” (unhealthy for all) before the majority would CANCEL outdoor plans.

Air quality information and their own visual observations were the most likely to get people to change their plans with text messaging and emergency alerts being the most likely way for them to get their information. Though the overwhelming majority believed wildfire smoke to be a hazard, most would not consider evacuating their home to avoid it. Medication, long showers, use of public buildings, and air filtration were the top choice for mitigating the effects of smoke.