For years, the Oregon Smoke Blog has been
the go-to resource for anyone wanting to learn the latest and best information
on smoke conditions during wildfire season. And now, the blog is even better.
In preparation for the upcoming summer months, DEQ has
revamped the blog to give it a cleaner design and make it more user friendly.
It also is much more adaptable to mobile phone use, which is increasingly the
preferred method for accessing the blog.
The blog, which is also translated into Spanish, includes
the heavily used air quality map, which shows the current readings of DEQ’s air
quality monitors around the state, color coded for quick reference (green =
good; red = bad). And it includes any updates on conditions or air quality
advisories that may be issued. There’s also a list of wildfire, smoke and
health-related resources.
The redesign was spearheaded by DEQ’s Laura Gleim, public
affairs specialist for Oregon’s Eastern Region, and Lia Boyarshinova, DEQ’s web
manager. Gleim has extensive experience in wildfire and smoke communications,
and Boyarshinova used her web design skills to create the new look.
The results will translate into a better experience for the
thousands and thousands of people who visit the blog each year.
Other popular DEQ resources include the Air Quality Index and
the OregonAir
mobile phone app.
—Harry Esteve, DEQ communications manager