The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Southwest Clean Air Agency and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency issued and extended air quality advisories Friday for many parts of Oregon due to smoke from fires in Oregon, Washington, California and Canada, as well as smog in metro areas.

DEQ expects the air quality advisory to last until a least noon Monday. DEQ and partner agencies will continue to monitor wildfire smoke and ozone pollution, or smog, in these areas.

The following areas are under advisory:

• Willamette Valley: Clackamas, Multnomah, Washington, Lane, Linn and Marion counties due to ozone pollution. Wildfire smoke is also impacting eastern Lane County.
• Central Oregon: Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties due to smoke.
• Eastern Oregon: Baker, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa due to smoke.
• Southern Oregon: Curry, Douglas, Josephine, Jackson, Klamath and Lake counties due to smoke. Ozone is also impacting Jackson County.
• Southern Washington: Clark, Cowlitz and Skamania counties due to smoke and ozone.

Smoke and ozone 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.

The Oregon DEQ offers the following advice:

• Stay inside if possible. Keep windows and doors closed.
• 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 or ozone in your area and avoid places with the highest levels.
• If you have heart or lung disease or asthma, follow your healthcare provider’s advice.
• 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 fitted and worn.
• They won’t work for everyone, especially children.

--Bruce Armstrong

Post Date: 2021-08-13 15:48:02

Last Update: 2021-08-13 16:02:09