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Gap Fire affecting air quality in Southwest Oregon

Visibility at Crater Lake National Park is impacted by smoke from the Gap Fire burning on the Klamath National Forest in California.


The Gap Fire, about 90 minutes south of Ashland on the Klamath National Forest in California will continue to impact air quality in Southwest Oregon, including the Rogue Valley. As of noon, smoke impacts were greatest near the Oregon/California border with reduced visibility along Interstate 5. Smoke is also reducing visibility in Crater Lake National Park about 100 miles to the northeast of the Gap Fire. 

The 24-hour air quality particulate matter 2.5 monitors in Ashland and Medford currently show good, or green conditions. However, forecasts call for light smoke to move over the Ashland area by mid-afternoon, potentially leading to moderate air quality. During the overnight hours, air quality should remain good in Medford, though farther south into Ashland, pockets of reduced visibility and moderate air quality may continue. The worst overnight smoke impacts will occur near the Oregon/California state border and along Oregon State Route 66 between Ashland and Klamath Falls.

For tomorrow, forecasts indicate that smoke will continue to impact visibility in Soutwest Oregon, with similar impacts as today. Conditions may change throughout the day. Check the latest air quality readings and sign up for alerts in your area.

For the latest information on wildfires visit InciWeb.

Also check out EPA's Air Quality for Particle Pollution to better understand air quality forecasts.

Looking north along I-5 at milepost 0.2 in southern Oregon.