August 2026
With widespread fires in the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada, air quality has become an issue for humans and animals.
Improvements in science and technology now allow for air quality readings all around North America.
Purple Air Inc. is a firm that provides air quality monitors for individuals, businesses and government agencies. These low-cost monitors provide a "quick and dirty" snapshot of the air at a specific location. Government monitoring stations have more sophisticated equipment and perform other tests. Hence, the Purple Air reading which is limited may not match the government monitoring site.
This snapshot of data is shared with the public via the internet.
Recently, one of our neighbors (Yates/Axworthy) installed a Purple Air monitor at their house at Davis Lake. You can access Davis Lake information by going to www.purpleair.com.
When this website comes up, there is a map of the USA. Zoom in over the Spokane area and make your way north to Davis Lake. Click on the colored dot and get the current data. The color of the dot will change with the air quality. The dot colors are based on the government standards which are listed below.
Air Quality Segments |
Number Range |
Color |
| Good | 0-50 |
Green |
| Moderate | 51-100 |
Yellow |
| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | 101-150 |
Orange |
| Unhealthy | 151-200 |
Red |
| Very Unhealthy | 201-300 |
Purple |
| Hazardous | 301+ |
Brown |
As air quality is driven primarily by wildfires, you can get information about fires all over North America and air quality by going to www.airnow.gov. Click on the Fire map and scroll to and zoom in over the Spokane area. You will see the active fires and get air quality information as well. Note: Purple Air sensors are included in the live fire map, so you get fire information and air quality data in one spot.
