ASPIRE Center pilot project awardees Sara Jones, Community Engagement Coordinator, Ashland Fire Resiliency (Translation Core pilot project awardee) and Parichehr Salimifard, Assistant Professor, OSU College of Engineering (Development Core pilot project awardee), teamed up on a project to monitor indoor and outdoor air quality in child-centered locations in Ashland, OR. They installed air quality monitoring equipment in five (5) diverse Southern Oregon locations, including two schools, a public library section for children, a science museum classroom for children, and the Oregon Child Development Center. Their goal focuses on the implementation and dissemination of best practices for air quality monitoring, interventions (air cleaners, filters, improvements for building envelope), and smoke preparedness planning. 

The project set the groundwork for the EPA Wildland Fire Smoke Preparedness in Community Buildings grant (EPA Grant No. 84075001) awarded to the team along with ASPIRE Center Investigators, Molly Kile and Perry Hystad. The team, in partnership with Smokewise Ashland, University of Oregon Smoke Center, and the Oregon Health Authority, hosted the Enhancing Wildfire Smoke Preparedness In Oregon Schools and Childcare Centers Summit (April 11. 2024). The summit brought together stakeholders from across Oregon, including state and local agencies, community-based organizations, and education and childcare settings to share resources and address best practices for enhancing wildfires smoke preparedness in Oregon schools (pre-K-12) and childcare centers.