News Release: DEQ issues air quality advisory for Portland metro, northeastern Oregon, portions of Willamette Valley, extends advisory for Southwest OR
Portland, Ore.—The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and
the Southwest Clean Air Agency have issued air quality advisories for the
Portland metro area and Southwest Washington where smoke from wildfires burning
in Washington has created unhealthy air quality.
DEQ also issued an air quality advisory for portions of
Northeastern Oregon and the Willamette Valley and extended an existing air quality in Jackson
and Josephine counties and portions of Klamath County. Air quality is expected
to be a concern there through the weekend.
Conditions in the Portland metro area should improve by Wednesday
afternoon, but high-level smoke and haze will linger through the week there.
Smoke is expected to drift farther south into the Willamette Valley and
upper-level smoke is also expected to linger there. Smoke is expected to last
through the weekend in Northeastern Oregon with levels rising and falling.
Light winds could bring some clearing on Thursday.
Air quality was unhealthy in a number of cities along the
Interstate 84 corridor on Tuesday morning including Hillsboro, Portland, The
Dalles, Pendleton and La Grande. Portions of the Willamette Valley including
Salem and Corvallis were seeing moderate air quality. In Southwest Oregon, air
quality monitors in Medford and Ashland were both unhealthy, while air quality
was very unhealthy in Shady Cove and unhealthy for sensitive groups in Klamath
Falls.
Local smoke levels can
rise and fall rapidly, depending on fire activity and weather factors including
wind direction.
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
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.
The Oregon Health Authority
urges residents of affected communities
to take steps to avoid health problems during hot, smoky conditions.
Be aware
of the level of health risk posed by area wildfire smoke. Get the latest
information by visiting the Oregon Smoke blog. Go to http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com
or call 2-1-1.
Avoid
outdoor activities when air quality is unhealthy and hazardous. Those with
heart or lung problems, as well as young children, are especially vulnerable.
These people should stay indoors while smoke levels are high. If smoke levels
are expected to remain high for more than two days, they might consider leaving
the area until air quality improves. Others can avoid smoke by staying indoors
with windows and doors closed. True high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) and
non-ozone producing electrostatic precipitator (ESP) air cleaners and filters
can help keep indoor air cleaner.
Reduce
other sources of indoor smoke. Avoid burning cigarettes and candles; using gas,
propane, wood-burning stoves and furnaces; cooking; and vacuuming.
If you
have heart disease or lung disease, such as asthma, follow your healthcare
provider’s advice about prevention and treatment of symptoms.
Go to the
Oregon Smoke Blog at http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com,
for the latest on wildfire smoke and air quality across the state. The blog also has an air quality map
that includes temporary monitors close to specific fires, daily smoke forecasts
for specific areas, and other resources.
Contact: DEQ: Laura Gleim, Public Affairs Specialist, Portland, 503-229-6488, gleim.laura@deq.state.or.us
OHA, Delia Hernandez, 503-422-7179, External Relations, delia.hernandez@state.or.us.