We are committed to continuing to do public health work as it relates to wildfires and wildfire smoke, and certainly this grant is a huge loss for us.”
In November 2023, the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department announced it had received a $1 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to protect against wildfires, wildfire smoke, and the health effects associated with both in rural East Pierce County and on the Key Peninsula. In March 2025, the funding was suddenly withdrawn.
“We envisioned a plan created by the community,” said Environmental Health Division Director Jessica Gehle. “Everyone in Pierce County is affected if there is poor air quality, but one of the unique elements of this grant that we were excited about was engaging our rural communities.”…