THE 5th SEASON IS NOW ON KUOW!

Living with wildfire smoke

The full project is now available on the University of Washington DEOHS website

It shows up so reliably now that some call it “the fifth season” - those darkened skies, smells of smoke, and days of indoor confinement. Many of us have lived with it long enough to learn from it.

The Fifth Season is a series of audio stories from people in the Methow Valley and North Central Washington who have found ways to build wildfire smoke resilience. Their experiences can help us protect ourselves and our loved ones the next time the smoke rolls in. 

Role: Writer, editor, field producer

Tasks: conduct interviews, write scripts, edit episodes.

Ode to an air purifier

Albert Isensee has lived in Okanogan County since the 1950s. He has some health conditions that put him at risk from smoke exposure, but he doesn't plan to leave the area. There's been smoke here for as long as he can remember. Luckily, methods for cleaning indoor air have improved.

“It's just a fact of life here. So if a person chooses to live here, they better figure out ways to deal with it.” - Albert Insensee

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