When the forest fire in this area created a lot of ash, people were advised to wear masks...which were available at drug stores and also at hardware stores...(in the paint dept.)..the ones that protected from particles the best are N-95.

When Mt. St. Helens blew up there was ash several inches deep as far away as Idaho and Montana, 1000 miles. people collected it and you can still find "souveniers" in bottles, test tubes, etc.