Oregon Smoke Information

DEQ issues air quality advisory for Hood River and Wasco counties Conditions unhealthy in parts of The Gorge, including The Dalles and Hood River The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is urging residents in Hood River and Wasco counties to health precautions from smoke caused by wildfires. The Eagle Creek Fire is bringing unhealthy levels of smoke into parts of The Gorge, including the communities of Hood River and The Dalles. These conditions are expected to last through the weekend and possibly into next week. 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. People in

Oregon State-Wide Smoke Forecast for the Weekend of September 16-17, 2017

Oregon Smoke Forecast for the Saturday-Sunday, September 16-17, 2017 Forecast Issued: Friday September 15, 2017 Forecaster: R. Graw, USDA Forest Service A low pressure system approaching the state will bring east winds on Saturday and southwesterly winds and rain on Sunday. This will be followed by a series of bands that will continue to bring precipitation throughout next week. These events will be a significant slowing event for the fires. In fact, we may even see snow above 5000 feet in elevation next week. While this is good news, we have one more day of a smoke for the west side of the state. Saturday: September 16, 2017 The approaching low pressure system will bring the return of east winds over the fires, bringing smoke into areas east of the fires across the state. Figure 1 illustrates the spatial pattern and relative concentrations of smoke for Saturday. On the west side of the state, the Willamette Valley, Roseburg, and the Rogue Valley will all see some sm

News Release: Wildfire smoke back, air quality alert issued for Lane County

Drainage flows from the east have brought the wildfire smoke back into Lane County overnight. Air quality monitors in Eugene are seeing spikes into the “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” levels Friday morning. The Lane Regional Air Protection Agency is issuing an air quality advisory from Friday 9 a.m. until Sunday 6 p.m. Wildfire smoke is more prominent this time of year, and the high temperatures have elevated fire danger around the state. “Residents who are sensitive to smoke are advised to use caution when participating in outdoor activities or to wait out the smoke for a couple days,” said Jo Niehaus, spokesperson for the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency. “We are expecting more smoke impacts until Sunday when rain is predicted.” Fine particles from smoke called PM 2.5 are easily inhaled and enter the bloodstream and lungs. It can aggravate existing respiratory and cardiovascular conditions and is especially harmful to children and seniors. LRAPA’s monitors are up