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Live on Trail 1033: Kerri Mueller, Missoula Public Health, and Amy Cilimburg, Climate Smart Missoula

  • Jun 8
  • 9 min read

"We've always had wildfires. Our forests are adapted to them. But across the West, fire seasons are getting longer, and we're seeing changing fire patterns. Some years are very unpredictable."



Mike Smith welcomed Amy Cilimburg from Climate Smart Missoula and Kerri Mueller from Missoula Public Health into the Trail 103.3 studio for a conversation about wildfire smoke, air quality, public health, and what people can do now to prepare before smoky conditions arrive.


Kerri is an Air Quality Specialist with Missoula Public Health, working in the Environmental Health Department on issues including outdoor burning, wildfire smoke, and air quality. Amy brings a science and climate background to the conversation through her work with Climate Smart Missoula, where wildfire smoke preparedness has been a major focus for years.


The conversation comes during Montana’s Wildfire Smoke Ready Week, with a free community event happening Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Cooper Room at the Missoula Public Library. The 2026 Wildfire and Smoke Outlook will include experts from the National Weather Service, the Montana Climate Office, Climate Smart Missoula, Missoula Public Health, and partner organizations looking at what this summer may bring and how people can prepare.


Wildfire smoke does not have to come from a fire right outside town to affect Missoula. Smoke from Oregon, Washington, California, Canada, or elsewhere across the West can settle into valleys like ours and impact air quality throughout Western Montana. That is why preparation matters before the smoke arrives.

Mike, Amy, and Kerri talk through the health impacts of wildfire smoke, including PM2.5 — the tiny particles in smoke that can travel deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream. Smoke can affect everyone, but children, older adults, pregnant people, people with heart or lung conditions, outdoor workers, and those who cannot easily avoid exposure are especially vulnerable.


The conversation also focuses on practical steps people can take. Portable HEPA air cleaners, box-fan filters, cleaner indoor air spaces, and good information can make a real difference. Climate Smart Missoula and Missoula Public Health have helped create MontanaWildfireSmoke.org as a resource for smoke science, health impacts, indoor air guidance, and preparation tips for homes, workplaces, and commercial buildings.


Amy also notes that Northwestern Energy residential customers may be eligible for a $100 rebate toward a portable air cleaner, which can help make cleaner indoor air more accessible before smoke season.

This is the kind of conversation that matters before the skies turn gray. The goal is not to panic. The goal is to prepare, help neighbors, know where to find reliable information, and make sure more people have a plan for staying healthy during smoke season.



Mike Smith: Good morning. Trail 103.3, KDTR-FM Florence-Missoula. I'm Mike Smith. Joining me in the studio are Amy Cilimburg from Climate Smart Missoula and Kerri Mueller from Missoula Public Health. Amy, welcome. Kerri, thanks for being here. Kerri Mueller: Thanks for having me. Mike Smith: You look kind of familiar. Have you been on the airwaves with us before? Kerri Mueller: I have—once last year. Mike Smith: Yeah. What all do you do over there at Missoula Public Health besides what we're talking about today? Kerri Mueller: I'm an Air Quality Specialist, so I work in the Environmental Health Department. I do anything from outdoor burning and wildfire smoke—especially in the summer—to a lot of other public health-related work tied to environmental health. Mike Smith: It seems like some of what you do is really steeped in science, and then there are other things where you remind us that you can put a filter on a box fan and improve your indoor air quality. Kerri Mueller: That's true. Mike Smith: Just real practical stuff. Kerri Mueller: Yeah. I think that's one of the main things about public health. There are a lot of really cool things we can do in our everyday lives to improve our health. That's what I want to do overall—improve public health. Mike Smith: Absolutely. And where you come together with Climate Smart Missoula is around wildfires, smoke, and air quality. Amy Cilimburg, you're a scientist, right? You come at this from a scientific perspective? Amy Cilimburg: Well, I have a master's degree in science, but a lot of what I know about air quality and pollution is self-taught. I'm a wildlife biologist by training. I went from studying birds to thinking about how we can stay healthy given some of the climate impacts that are changing our realities month to month and year to year. Mike Smith: Earlier today I mentioned a story from Inside Climate News, and you said you'd seen the same article. It talked about how we've had some cool weather and rain recently, but we're nowhere near being in the clear when it comes to wildfire season and drought. That's where you come in—to help us understand what's really happening out there, both from a scientific and practical standpoint. Amy Cilimburg: Exactly. I'm definitely not a weather forecaster, but from a climate perspective, this is actually where Climate Smart Missoula first started working with Missoula Public Health about a decade ago, alongside Kerri's predecessor, Sarah Coefield. We've always had wildfires. Our forests are adapted to them. But across the West, fire seasons are getting longer, and we're seeing changing fire patterns. Some years are very unpredictable. As we continue seeing smoke not only in the summer but also into the fall, we need to understand how it affects our health. And the more we learn, the more we realize that everyone is vulnerable to wildfire smoke. Given concerns about larger fires across the West and smoke drifting into Western Montana valleys, we want people to understand both the risks and the fact that there are things they can do about it. For people who have homes, there are relatively simple ways to clean indoor air. We're trying to do the best we can for our health while adapting to the changes we're seeing because of climate change. Mike Smith: The National Weather Service will continue issuing warnings and forecasts, and we'll share those on the radio throughout wildfire season. We're all hoping we don't have a major fire year, but there's a good chance we could. That's where your work becomes really important. Kerri Mueller: Exactly. We never really know what a fire season will look like. Forecasts are helpful, but we don't know where smoke will come from. If Oregon, Washington, California, or even Canada experiences significant fires, that smoke can drift into the Missoula Valley and settle here, affecting communities throughout Western Montana. Mike Smith: That's one challenge of living in a valley. We love Missoula, but inversions can trap smoke. We might not have major fires nearby, but if conditions are right elsewhere, we'll still get the smoke. And that's why preparation matters. You have an event coming up this week. Let's talk about that. Amy Cilimburg: Absolutely. This is Montana's official Wildfire Smoke Ready Week. We're actually starting a little earlier this year because some preparations take time—especially for commercial buildings that need to make adjustments to handle wildfire smoke. As part of that effort, we're partnering with organizations in the Flathead Valley to host the 2026 Wildfire and Smoke Outlook. Experts will discuss projections for this summer. We'll hear from the National Weather Service and from Kyle Bocinsky with the Montana Climate Office, who will provide climate context and discuss how changing conditions may influence future fire seasons. We'll also cover practical ways to stay both fire-safe and smoke-safe. The event is Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Missoula Public Library. It's free and open to everyone in the Cooper Room. At the same time, people in the Flathead can attend at Flathead Valley Community College. It's a simulcast event, because smoke and wildfire impacts don't stop at county lines. The goal is to share resources, communicate across communities, and build resilience together. We've had some good rain recently, and soil moisture has improved, but we'll be looking at the full picture and discussing ways people can stay healthy and prepared. There will also be a Zoom option available. Mike Smith: Very cool. So tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the Cooper Room at the Missoula Public Library, with online participation available as well. You can find details at Climate Smart Missoula's website. Now, Kerri, let's talk more about health impacts. We all have lungs, we all breathe air, and that's where Missoula Public Health comes in. What are some of the things you want people to know as we head toward another potentially smoky summer? Kerri Mueller: There are a lot of things people can do, and thankfully we can significantly reduce smoke exposure indoors. But first, it's important to understand that wildfire smoke affects everyone. Certain groups are more vulnerable, including children, older adults, pregnant people, individuals with heart or lung disease, outdoor workers, and people who can't easily avoid exposure. But smoke can affect all of us. Mike Smith: That's a pretty long list. Kerri Mueller: It really is. Mike Smith: Even in our work environment, where we have filtered air, I'll be reading smoke reports and suddenly realize I have a headache. I rarely get headaches. It makes me wonder: what's actually in the smoke? People think, "It's just wood smoke." But it's more than that. Kerri Mueller: Exactly. Smoke contains a variety of chemicals and gases. The main pollutant we focus on is PM2.5—particulate matter that's 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller. These particles are so tiny that they bypass your body's normal defenses. Larger particles get trapped in your upper respiratory system and can be coughed out. PM2.5 particles travel deep into the lungs and can even enter the bloodstream. That's why smoke can affect your entire body. Short-term effects include headaches, irritated eyes, and respiratory symptoms. Long-term exposure has been linked to reduced lung capacity, increased inflammation, weakened immune responses, greater risk of heart attack and stroke, and worsening asthma and COPD symptoms. Researchers have learned a tremendous amount about wildfire smoke in recent years, and the evidence continues to grow. Mike Smith: Are there good resources available online? Kerri Mueller: Absolutely. Climate Smart Missoula and Missoula Public Health created a shared website: MontanaWildfireSmoke.org People can learn about the science, health impacts, and steps they can take to reduce exposure. Amy Cilimburg: The site also includes information for commercial building owners, HVAC professionals, and anyone looking for technical guidance, including current ASHRAE recommendations related to wildfire smoke. A few years ago, when wildfire smoke from Canada reached Washington, D.C. and New York City, people across the country were using this website because the information is broadly applicable. Our goal is to make practical guidance easy to find and understand. Mike Smith: This really is a statewide effort. Governor Greg Gianforte has issued a proclamation recognizing Wildfire Smoke Ready Week. The City of Missoula has done the same. Organizations from many different backgrounds are coming together around this issue. That's encouraging. We may disagree on lots of things, but we can all agree on helping our communities stay healthy. Amy Cilimburg: Exactly. When we first started doing this work, we didn't fully understand how much outdoor air pollution was making its way indoors. Now we've done extensive monitoring inside buildings and homes, testing everything from box-fan filters to portable HEPA air cleaners. The results are impressive. I have several portable HEPA air cleaners in my house because they work so well. Mike Smith: We have one at home, too. They're great. Amy Cilimburg: And right now, Northwestern Energy residential customers can receive a $100 rebate toward a portable air cleaner, which covers much of the cost. That's another reason we're encouraging people to prepare before smoke arrives. One area of research that really stands out is the connection between air pollution—including wildfire smoke—and cognitive decline. Researchers are finding links between long-term exposure and increased risks associated with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. If using an air cleaner helps reduce those risks, that's a pretty compelling reason to have one. Mike Smith: I want my brain working now—and in a couple decades. It's a beautiful blue-sky day today, and maybe this conversation feels a little heavy. But the information is important, and it'll still be important months from now. Again, tomorrow at 6 p.m. at the Missoula Public Library, there will be a free community forum featuring experts discussing wildfire and smoke outlooks for 2026. You can learn more at ClimateSmartMissoula.org. Kerri, final thoughts? Kerri Mueller: We have blue skies now, and even if it gets smoky this summer, those blue skies will return. Don't panic. We can clean indoor air, reduce exposure, and protect ourselves. We'll also be at the Missoula Public Library Monday through Thursday this week for a few hours each day, and we'll be at both farmers markets. People are welcome to stop by and talk with us. Mike Smith: Amy, your final thoughts? Amy Cilimburg: Just building on what Kerri said—there are a lot of challenges in the world, but wildfire smoke is something we can prepare for and manage. We can help our neighbors, especially people who may be new to Missoula and unfamiliar with smoke season. Encourage them to get a HEPA air cleaner, learn about air quality, and connect with available resources. Smoke can feel discouraging when it lingers, but there are practical steps people can take. We offer tips and tools to help people weather the weather, so to speak. Mike Smith: That's one of the things we love doing here on Trail 103.3—highlighting not just fun events, but important community conversations. We'll continue sharing information and resources throughout wildfire season. Amy Cilimburg: And if it's a smoky day and you're indoors running your HEPA air cleaner, put on some headphones and listen to Trail 103.3. Mike Smith: Exactly. That's what you do. We'll get through it together—that's the point. Amy Cilimburg from Climate Smart Missoula and Kerri Mueller from Missoula Public Health, thank you both for coming in today. Amy Cilimburg & Kerri Mueller: Thank you for having us.




🌲 Trail Community Interviews are part of the Trail Listening Post podcast series and can be heard LIVE on 103.3 FM most weekdays at 10AM

 
 
 

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