QUICK FACTS
Location: Deschutes, Grant and Wheeler Counties
End
date: Friday,
Sept. 13
Smoke
source: Fires
in Oregon
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory Wednesday, Sept. 11, for the following areas due to smoke from fires in Oregon:
- Deschutes County
- Grant County
- Wheeler County
DEQ expects the air quality advisory to last until at least Friday
morning, Sept. 13. DEQ and partner agencies will continue to monitor smoke in
the area.
DEQ also expects intermittent smoke in Crook, eastern Douglas, northern Harney,
northern Jackson, northern Josephine, northern Klamath, northern Lake, eastern
Lane and northern Malheur 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.
- 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.
- Learn more about public health guidance for school outdoor activities during wildfire events.
- DEQ: Antony Vorobyov, 503-887-9113, antony.vorobyov@deq.oregon.gov
- DEQ: Dylan Darling, 541-600-6119, dylan.darling@deq.oregon.gov
- Local and Tribal contacts
Smoke from the Service Fire rises Wednesday, Sept. 11, near ORE 19. Photo from InciWeb.
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