Updated: Air quality advisory for parts of Southern, Central and Eastern Oregon [Aviso sobre la calidad del aire]
QUICK FACTS
Location: Baker, Grant, Wheeler, Crook, Union, southern
Morrow and Umatilla, Klamath, eastern Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, and northern Harney and Malheur counties
End
date: Until
further notice
Smoke
source: Fires
in Oregon
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory Monday, July 22, for the following areas due to smoke from fires in Oregon:
- Baker
- Grant
- Wheeler
- Crook
- Union
- Southern Morrow
- Southern Umatilla
- Klamath
- Eastern Douglas
- Jackson
- Josephine
- Northern Harney
- Northern Malheur
The advisories are in effect until further notice. Smoke experts
will revisit forecasts on Wednesday and possibly update the advisories.
DEQ also expects intermittent smoke in Deschutes, eastern Lane and northern Lake County through Wednesday due to smoke from the Diamond Complex Fire.
Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on weather. Check current conditions on the Oregon Smoke Information Blog, DEQ’s Air Quality Index, or by downloading the free OregonAIR app on your smartphone.
Smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions. People most at risk include infants and young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people.
- Stay inside if possible. Keep windows and
doors closed. If it’s too hot, run air conditioning on recirculate or
consider moving to a cooler location.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
- Use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters in indoor
ventilation systems or portable air purifiers. Or create your own air
purifying filter by following these instructions.
- Be aware of smoke in your area and avoid places with the highest
levels.
- When air quality improves to moderate or healthy
(yellow or green on the Air Quality Index), open windows and doors to air
out homes and businesses.
- If you
have a breathing plan for a medical condition, be sure to follow it and
keep any needed medications refilled.
Cloth, dust and surgical masks don’t protect from the harmful particles in smoke. N95 or P100 respirators approved by NIOSH may offer protection, but they must be properly selected and worn. Select a NIOSH-approved respirator with a N, R or P alongside the number 95, 99 or 100. Learn how to put on and use a respirator. Respirators won’t work for children as they don’t come in children’s sizes. People with heart or lung conditions should consult their health care provider before wearing a respirator.
- Find a cleaner air space in your area: Visit 211info.org and search for “Wildfire Related Clean Air Shelters.” Or call 211 any time or day.
- Learn more about protecting your health during wildfires
Media contacts:
- DEQ: Antony Vorobyov, 503-887-9113, antony.vorobyov@deq.oregon.gov
- DEQ: Lauren Wirtis, 503-568-3295, lauren.wirtis@deq.oregon.gov
- Local and Tribal contacts
Durkee Fire seen from Huntington Road. Photo from InciWeb.
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