Spokane's "Smoke Ready Spokane" Campaign Expands Reach: Educational Materials Now Available Through Community Partners

Name: Spokane Regional Health District
Price range: $

Jul 31, 2025

SPOKANE, Wash. – Following its successful launch, the "Smoke Ready Spokane" campaign, a collaborative initiative by the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency (SRCAA), the Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD), and Gonzaga University Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment, is now actively distributing vital educational materials throughout the community. The Smoke Ready Spokane campaign empowers residents to protect themselves and their loved ones from wildfire smoke, and its resources are now readily accessible through a robust network of trusted community organizations.

Wildfire smoke continues to pose significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations. The "Smoke Ready Spokane" campaign provides essential information and resources to help the community prepare for and respond to poor air quality events. The focus now shifts to ensuring these critical tools reach every corner of Spokane through dedicated partners.

"The initial response to 'Smoke Ready Spokane' has been incredibly positive," said Lisa Woodard, communications/outreach manager for SRCAA. "Now, our priority is getting these actionable resources directly into the hands of those who need them most. Our community partners and trusted messengers are absolutely vital in extending this reach and fostering preparedness at a truly local level."

Key Goals of the "Smoke Ready Spokane" Campaign (Ongoing Focus):

Increase Awareness: Educate the public on wildfire smoke's health harms and actions to reduce exposure.
Enhance Knowledge: Inform targeted audiences—pregnant individuals, new parents, and those with chronic health conditions—on how to access and interpret current and forecasted air quality information (Air Quality Index).
Drive Action: Motivate residents to take protective measures against smoke exposure.
Strengthen Partnerships: Continue building collaborations with community-based organizations to expand the campaign's reach and effectiveness.

The campaign's strategy is built on extensive audience research and pre-engagement, identifying individuals and families who are pregnant or new parents, and those with chronic health conditions (such as asthma, COPD, heart disease, and diabetes) as primary target audiences. Efforts also raise general community awareness. Campaign materials, including digital ads, website content, posters, brochures, and billboards, emphasize cultural relevance and are available in both English and Spanish.

"Our research highlighted the critical need for tailored information for our most vulnerable community members," said Dr. Brian G. Henning, founding director of the Gonzaga Climate Institute. "Through focus groups, surveys, and especially our 'Trusted Messengers,' we've developed a campaign that speaks directly to these needs. These messengers are now actively distributing materials and fostering preparedness at a grassroots level, ensuring information resonates within specific neighborhoods and groups."

Trusted messengers and community partners for the campaign include:

Susana Rosen, a registered nurse in the Nurse Family Partnership Program at SRHD
David Castro, a community health worker supervisor at CHAS Health
Samyra “Sammi” Jefferson, a family navigator/doula with Shades of Motherhood Network

Developed with Uncommon Bridges and August Creative, the "Smoke Ready Spokane" campaign continues its phased rollout, with ongoing digital and physical distribution of materials through September. It significantly leverages strong networks with county partners and "Trusted Messengers" to ensure direct delivery of materials through established organizational channels, community events, and direct outreach. The campaign continuously monitors, evaluates, and optimizes its effectiveness using data and feedback loops from these community engagements.

Funding for the education campaign is provided by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Wildfire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings program.

Learn More and Get Smoke Ready:

For more information and resources to become "Smoke Ready," please visit www.SmokeReadySpokane.org.

About Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency (SRCAA)

Our job is to ensure that people in Spokane County have clean air to breathe. We monitor air quality for key pollutants to know how clean the air is and where to focus our resources. We implement programs to improve air quality; we enforce federal, state, and local air quality laws; and we encourage individuals to make clean air choices. Learn more about our work at SpokaneCleanAir.org.

About Gonzaga University Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment

The Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water and the Environment works to promote the flourishing of Inland Northwest communities in the face of a changing climate. Since 2021, the Institute has received 22 grants totaling more than $22 million to pursue that work. Visit www.gonzaga.edu/ClimateInstitute for more information on its work.

About Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD)

The Spokane Regional Health District is a leader and partner in public health by protecting, improving and promoting the health and well-being of all people through evidence-based practices. SRHD is one of 34 local public health agencies serving Washington state’s 39 counties. Visit www.srhd.org for comprehensive, updated information about SRHD and its triumphs in making Spokane a safer and healthier community. Like SRHD on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to receive safety and wellness tips.

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