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Wildfires Cause Hazardous Air Quality in Klamath County
Klamath Falls, Or. - Public Health officials urge Klamath County residents to take precautions as the air quality reached  Hazardous  levels. The wind direction and speed will vary throughout the next three days. We advise residents to use caution when they are outdoors. The air quality index, a 24-hour average of pollution levels, reached hazardous levels Saturday  at 7:00 pm, meaning Hazardous air conditions for all groups (see U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s scale for rating air quality below).

The smoke coming into our area is believed to be from the” Frog Fire”  in Northern California and from the “Stouts Creek Fire”  16 miles east of Canyonville, Oregon. During the next three days our Air Quality may vary from Hazardous to Moderate levels. Check out http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/  and http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx    
 for updated fire and Air Quality information. Klamath County Environmental Health Division will also provide updated Air Quality information at 541-882-2876 http://klamathairquality.blogspot.com/ , http://klamathair.info/, and https://www.facebook.com/KlamathBasinAirQuality?ref=hl.

Klamath County Public Health is advising residents in Klamath County to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations and urge local residents to take the following precautions to avoid breathing problems or other symptoms from smoke:

  • Check local Air Quality Index for information about conditions.
  • Reduce the amount of time spent outdoors. This can usually provide some protection, especially in a tightly closed, air-conditioned house in which the air conditioner can be set to re-circulate air instead of bringing in outdoor air. Staying inside with the doors and windows closed can usually reduce exposure.
  • Avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
  • Reduce other sources of indoor air pollution. Some indoor sources of air pollution can emit large amounts of the same pollutants present in wildfire smoke. Indoor sources such as burning cigarettes, gas, propane and woodburning stoves and furnaces, and activities such as cooking, burning candles, and vacuuming can greatly increase the particle levels in a home. These sources of indoor air pollution should be avoided when wildfire smoke is present.
  • Do not rely on dust masks for protection. Paper “comfort” or “dust” masks commonly found at hardware stores are designed to trap large particles, but will not offer protection from smoke. An “N95” mask work properly will offer some protection.
Individuals with lung diseases such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease should follow their health care provider’s advice about prevention and treatment of symptoms. When smoke levels are high enough, even healthy people may experience symptom remember, local smoke levels can rise and fall rapidly, depending on weather factors including wind direction. People can conduct a 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 local public health agency for the latest in threats to health conditions from smoke.

Klamath County Health Department advises you to see your health care professional for your specific health situation if necessary.
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's scale for rating air quality
The data displayed are the most current available.
All readings are preliminary and unvalidated. Following final review, all values are subject to change.
New AQI readings will be available at approximately 15-20 minutes past the hour. The AQI map will refresh asynchronously at this time.
The units ppm and µg/m3 stand for parts per million and micrograms per cubic meter, respectively. Both are used in the measurement of air pollutant concentration.
Air Quality
Rating
Air Quality Index (AQI)
PM2.5 1-hour Average (µg/m3)
PM2.5 24-hour Average (µg/m3)
Ozone 8-hour Average (ppm)
GOOD
0 - 50
0.0 - 40.4
0.0 - 12.0
0.000 - 0.059
MODERATE
51 - 100
40.5 - 80.4
12.1 - 35.4
0.060 - 0.075
UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS
101 - 150
80.5 - 175.4
35.5 - 55.4
0.076 - 0.095
UNHEALTHY
151 - 200
175.5 - 300.4
55.5 - 150.4
0.096 - 0.115
VERY UNHEALTHY
201 - 300
300.5 - 500.4
150.5 - 250.4
0.116 - 0.374
HAZARDOUS
>300
>500.5
>250.5
>0.375
Table 1. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is the EPA's scale for rating air quality