The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and local
health officials are urging people in northeast and southeast Oregon to take
precautions as smoke from multiple fires is drifting into these parts of the
state. Unhealthy smoke levels could occur today in Baker, Harney, Malheur,
Union and Wallowa counties.
Depending on weather conditions, smoke from these fires can
drift into communities and quickly cause unhealthy air quality. Should smoke
events occur, people should take the following precautions to avoid breathing
problems or other symptoms from smoke:
·
Be aware of smoke concentrations in your area
and avoid places with the highest concentrations.
·
Avoid smoke either by leaving the area or
protecting yourself by staying indoors, closing all windows and doors and using
a filter in your heating/cooling system that removes very fine particulate
matter.
·
Avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
·
For people suffering from asthma or other
respiratory problems, follow breathing management plans or contact healthcare providers.
Local smoke levels can rise and fall rapidly, depending on
weather factors including wind direction. People can conduct visual assessment
of smoke levels to quickly get a sense of air quality levels and take
precautions. If people have additional concerns, they should contact the
nearest regional or local public health agency for the latest in health
conditions from smoke.
For more information about local conditions:
·
Visit the Oregon Smoke Blog at http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/
for more information about active fires and air quality. The blog includes
tools to help people assess smoke levels in their area.
·
Tune to local radio and TV stations and the
Weather Channel in affected areas to get the latest fire information and
weather reports.
·
Obtain a National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration Weather Radio receiver, which alerts you 24 hours a day to
hazards in your area.