According to the Tri-City Herald, the air quality in the Tri-city area has been labeled “unhealthy” by The Benton Clean Air Agency. They monitored the air quality on Monday afternoon and gave it this rating due to wildfires smoke in the area. The National Weather Service reports that the visibility at the Pasco airport decreased to four miles on Monday. The Tri-Cities and surrounding areas have been issued an air quality alert by the weather service, until further notice.

Most of Eastern Washington, including in Walla Walla, Mesa and Yakima were considered to have unhealthy air on Monday. The air quality was even worse in Toppenish, where it was given a rating of “very unhealthy.”

Earlier, on Saturday, the air quality was rated as unhealthy in the Tri-Cities, but it improved and the rating was reduced to “unhealthy for sensitive groups” on Sunday.

According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, during the recent conditions of unhealthy air quality, everyone should avoid spending time outdoors, as well as outdoor exercise like team sports. Even those remaining indoors should not undertake strenuous activities.

Highly sensitive people, such as children, pregnant women and seniors, as well as people with asthma, respiratory infection, are particularly suggested to stay indoors.