QUICK FACTS
Location: Deschutes,
Jefferson and western Crook counties
Smoke source: Flat Fire
** Información en español **
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality lifted an air quality advisory Monday, Aug. 25, for Deschutes, Jefferson and western Crook counties, due to improved smoke conditions and a favorable weather forecast.
DEQ expects intermittent smoke in Deschutes and Jefferson counties through Thursday morning, Aug. 28, due to smoke from the Flat Fire. Air quality may improve during the day, but smoke is likely to return overnight.
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.
- Find a cleaner air space in your area: Visit 211info.org and search for “Wildfire Related Clean Air Shelters.” Or call 211 any time or day.
- Learn more about protecting your health during wildfires
Media contacts:
- DEQ: Antony Vorobyov, 503-887-9113, antony.vorobyov@deq.oregon.gov
- Local and Tribal contacts
Smoke rises from the Flat Fire
on Friday, August 22. (Photo from Central Oregon Fire)
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