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Air quality advisory extended for parts of central Oregon; plus intermittent smoke expected in northeast

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QUICK FACTS

Location:
  • Air quality advisory: Deschutes, northern Klamath, Lake, eastern Lane counties
  • Smoke watch: Wallowa and Baker counties for intermittent smoke near fires
End date: Monday, Sept. 19
Smoke source: Cedar Creek fire near Oakridge; Double Creek, Sturgill, Nebo fires in Wallowa Mountains

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency extended an air quality advisory Friday for Deschutes, northern Klamath, Lake, and eastern Lane counties through Monday, due to smoke primarily from the Cedar Creek fire near Oakridge.

In northeast Oregon, areas in Wallowa and Baker counties near the Double Creek, Sturgill and Nebo fires will likely continue to have intermittent smoke impacts.

DEQ and LRAPA expect the air quality advisory to last until at least Monday. Smoke in southern Lake County may clear by Saturday afternoon, but smoke will likely remain in the northern part of the county through the weekend.

Check wildfire smoke outlooks for Oregon to see forecasts showing what times of day smoke might be better or worse in communities near fire areas.

Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on weather. Check current conditions on the Oregon Smoke Information Blog, DEQ’s Air Quality Index, or by downloading the free OregonAIR app on your smartphone.

Smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions. People most at risk include infants and young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people.

Protect yourself and your family when smoke levels are high:
  • Stay inside if possible. Keep windows and doors closed. If it’s too hot, run air conditioning on recirculate or consider moving to a cooler location.
  • Avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
  • Use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters in indoor ventilation systems or portable air purifiers. Or create your own air purifying filter by following these instructions.
  • Be aware of smoke in your area and avoid places with the highest levels.
  • When air quality improves to moderate or healthy (yellow or green on the Air Quality Index), open windows and doors to air out homes and businesses.
  • If you have a breathing plan for a medical condition, be sure to follow it and keep any needed medications refilled.
Cloth, dust and surgical masks don’t protect from the harmful particles in smoke. N95 or P100 respirators approved by NIOSH may offer protection, but they must be properly selected and worn. Select a NIOSH-approved respirator with a N, R or P alongside the number 95, 99 or 100. Learn how to put on and use a respirator. Respirators won’t work for children as they don’t come in children’s sizes. People with heart or lung conditions should consult their health care provider before wearing a respirator.

Additional resources:
Media contacts:
  • DEQ: Laura Gleim, 503-577-3697, laura.gleim@deq.oregon.gov
  • LRAPA: Travis Knudsen, 541-736-1056 ext. 217, travis@lrapa.org
  • Local and Tribal contacts

Smoke from the Cedar Creek fire. Photo from InciWeb.