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News Release: DEQ issues air quality advisory for Curry, Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties

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The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality advisory for much of southwest Oregon due to smoke from a wildfire in southern Douglas County, approximately one mile southeast of Canyonville.

Curry, Jackson, Josephine and Klamath Counties are affected. This air advisory is in place through the weekend until Monday, July 29, 2019. On Monday morning, DEQ will evaluate whether to extend the advisory and in which locations.

Smoke conditions can change rapidly near wildfires, check current air quality conditions and advisories on DEQ’s website or by downloading the OregonAir app on a smartphone.

On Friday afternoon, air quality monitors measuring particulate matter, a core component of wildfire smoke, along Interstate 5 in Grants Pass, Medford, Talent and Ashland are reading red or unhealthy for everyone. Monitors in Provolt along Highway 238 and Cave Junction along Highway 199 are also reading red. DEQ and partner agencies will be monitoring weather and air quality conditions over the weekend and providing updates on Monday.

DEQ’s color-coded Air Quality Index provides current air quality conditions and ranks air quality as follows: Green is good. Yellow is moderate (unhealthy for extremely sensitive groups). Orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory conditions. Red is unhealthy for everyone. Purple is very unhealthy for all groups. Maroon is hazardous.

Smoke can irritate people’s eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions. Small children, adults over 65, pregnant women and people with heart disease, asthma or other respiratory conditions are particularly vulnerable.

People can take the following precautions to protect their health during periods of severe smoke:
  • Stay inside if possible and avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
  • Be aware of smoke in your area and avoid places with highest concentrations.
  • If you have asthma or heart or lung disease, follow your health provider's advice.
  • Use certified HEPA filters in indoor heating, ventilation, cooling and air purification systems. HEPA stands for high efficiency particulate air filters.
  • Check for cleaner air shelters in your area on the Oregon Smoke Blog.
Resources:
Contacts:
DEQ: Harry Esteve, Communications Manager, Statewide, (503) 229-6484, esteve.harry@deq.state.or.us

Douglas County: Teresa Mutschler, (541) 440-3568, teresa@douglaspublichealthnetwork.org 

Curry County: Sherrie Ward, Curry County Public Health, (541) 373-8016, wards@currych.org

Jackson County: Tanya Phillips, Jackson County Public Health, (541) 770-7708, PhilliTF@jacksoncounty.org

Josephine County: Mike Weber, Public Health Director, (541) 474-5339, mweber@co.josephine.or.us

Klamath County: Ramona Quinn, Klamath County Public Health, (541) 892-9153, rquinn@co.klamath.or.us; OR
Jim Carey, Klamath County Public Health, (541) 882-8846, jcarey@co.klamath.or.us