Air quality advisory for parts of Southern, Central and Eastern Oregon [Aviso sobre la calidad del aire]
QUICK FACTS
Location: Grant, Wheeler, Crook, Deschutes, southern
Umatilla and southern Morrow, Klamath, eastern Douglas, and northern Harney and
northern Malheur counties
End
date: Until
further notice
Smoke
source: Fires
in Oregon
** Información en español **
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory Wednesday, July 24, for the following areas due to smoke from fires in Oregon:
- Grant County
- Wheeler County
- Crook County
- Deschutes County
- Southern Umatilla County
- Southern Morrow County
- Klamath County
- Eastern Douglas County
- Northern Harney County
- Northern Malheur County
The advisories are in effect until further notice. Smoke experts
will revisit forecasts on Friday and possibly update the advisories.
DEQ also expects intermittent smoke in Union, Baker, Wallowa, Jackson, Josephine,
Gilliam, eastern Lane and northern Lake counties due
to smoke from fires in Oregon.
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.
Protect yourself and your family when smoke levels are high:
- 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.
Additional resources:
- 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
