DEQ
is also extending an air quality advisory until noon Friday for Central and
Eastern Oregon (Crook, Baker, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Jefferson,
Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wasco, Wheeler).
Both
advisories had been set to expire at noon on Thursday.
DEQ
has an air quality advisory is in place until further notice in Josephine,
Jackson, Klamath and Lake counties. Some clearing is expected Thursday night in
those counties and additional improvements could occur Friday.
The
advisory for the Portland metro area, North Coast and Willamette Valley
includes: Benton, Clatsop, Clackamas, Columbia, Hood River, Linn, Lincoln,
Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Tillamook, Washington, Yamhill.
Local
smoke levels can rise and fall rapidly. Residents can view current air quality
conditions at DEQ’s Air Quality Index https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map
The index is also available on smart phones. Simply search for OregonAir in
your app store.
The Oregon Smoke Blog also has an air quality map that includes temporary monitors close to specific fires, daily smoke forecasts for specific areas, and other resources. Visit the Oregon Smoke Blog for more information: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/
The color-coded Air Quality Index ranks air quality as follows: Green is good. Yellow is moderate, which is 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.
People can take the following precautions:
- Be aware of smoke concentrations in your area and avoid the places with highest concentrations.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions.
- If you have heart disease, asthma or other respiratory ailments, or are over 65, you have a higher risk of illness from wildfire smoke.
- Small children and pregnant women are also at increased risk. These residents are encouraged to stay indoors.
The Oregon Smoke Blog also has an air quality map that includes temporary monitors close to specific fires, daily smoke forecasts for specific areas, and other resources. Visit the Oregon Smoke Blog for more information: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/
The color-coded Air Quality Index ranks air quality as follows: Green is good. Yellow is moderate, which is 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.
People can take the following precautions:
- Be aware of smoke concentrations in your area and avoid the places with highest concentrations.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions.
- If you have heart disease, asthma or other respiratory ailments, or are over 65, you have a higher risk of illness from wildfire smoke.
- Small children and pregnant women are also at increased risk. These residents are encouraged to stay indoors.
- People suffering from asthma or other respiratory problems should follow their breathing management plans or contact their healthcare providers.
Oregon's monitoring network does not capture air quality conditions in all
communities so it is important for residents to gauge air quality conditions
where they live and take appropriate actions to protect themselves.
Contact: DEQ: Katherine Benenati, Public Affairs Specialist, Eugene,
541-600-6119, benenati.katherine@deq.state.or.us