HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – In August, the Hill County Health Department received a temporary air quality monitor on their roof to help monitor the smoke in the air during the fire season. Public Health Director Kim Larson says that despite a current malfunction with their temporary equipment, she’s hopeful they will get a permanent monitor.
“I talk to the Department of Environmental Quality and our temporary monitor is not functioning right now. However they are looking at placing a permanent monitor in Havre. So there looking at different locations. There’s specific guidelines they have to follow as to where they can put it.”
Larson says that this permanent monitor will help school faculty decide whether or not it’s safe for the students to be outside with sports events during the fire season.
“With our temporary monitor, the Havre Public Schools created some policies that they are going to follow with different air quality measurements. So, once we get that monitor in place and we know we’ll have it, then it just strengthens those policies even further. And it brings light to, you know, how important good quality air is.”
Larson hasn’t heard the final word that they will get a permanent air quality monitor, but she is hopeful they will have one for this coming summer.
