Smoky skies are slowly becoming a late-summer norm for Bend

(Update: adding information, DEQ, Bend resident comments, video)

In three of past four years, the city has seen at least one day of 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' air quality

BEND Ore. (KTVZ) -- If you have only been living in Bend for a few years, you would not be wrong thinking smoky summers are usual, but only recently have the wildfire-fueled murky skies become the norm.

Between 1989 and 2014, Bend had just three days of unhealthy air quality, according to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Since 2015, there's been 14 of those days.

In 2020, the city had its first-ever recorded "hazardous" air quality day, and would go on have five more that season. This past Sunday, Bend had its first hazardous air quality day of the year.

“You may be seeing more smoke like you have the last weekend," DEQ spokesman Dylan Darling told NewsChannel 21 on Tuesday.

On top of Pilot Butte, there was not much to see on Tuesday, in terms of the typical mountain views, but that did not stop Gabriel Fischer from taking in what he could see.

“I see a lot of smoke -- that’s what I see,” Fischer said. “It’s bad. It’s been here for a few days, and it’s starting to take an effect on people. My dad can’t do yard work, and my mom has trouble checking the mail.”

Below is a release from the DEQ on an extended air quality advisory for this week.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency issued an air quality advisory Tuesday for Central and Southern Oregon, plus parts of the Oregon Cascades and Eastern Oregon, due to smoke from wildfires around Oregon and Northern California.

Much of Central Oregon still had "unhealthy" air quality levels as of Tuesday, in the E::Space Central Oregon Air Quality network featured on KTVZ.COM's weather page.

The following areas are under the latest DEQ advisory:

·                 Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Grant, Harney, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake and Malheur counties until at least Thursday afternoon.

·                 Eastern portions of Douglas, Lane, Linn and Marion counties, depending on nearby fire activity until at least Thursday afternoon. 

Daily smoke forecasts for Southern Oregon, Klamath Falls and Lane and Deschutes counties are available from the US Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program. These forecasts provide estimates of what times of day smoke might be better or worse in those 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 women.

Protect yourself and your family when smoke levels are high:

• 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 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. People with heart or lung conditions should consult their doctor before wearing a respirator. Get more information about protecting your health during wildfires.

To find a cleaner air space in your area: Visit 211info.org, click “Find Resources” and search in the Community Resource Database for “Wildfire Related Clean Air Shelters.” Or call 211 or 1-866-698-6155, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

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Monday's update on the Middle Fork Complex Fire, the source of much of our smoke in recent days:

Middle Fork Complex Daily Update – September 7, 2021

Northwest Incident Management Team 6

Shawn Sheldon, Incident Commander

Phone: 425-324-1267 (8am – 8pm)

Email: 2021.middlefork@firenet.gov

InciWeb: inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7745

Facebook: facebook.com/MiddleForkComplex

Twitter: twitter.com/willametteNF

Origin/Location: North of Oakridge, OR

Gales: 24,459 acres and 12% contained Date/Time Detected: July 29, 2021, 2:00 p.m.

Kwis: 1,485 acres and 98% contained Number of Personnel: 710

Total: 25,944 acres and 20% contained Cause: Lightning

Westfir, OR – Fire behavior could be active today due to dry and unstable weather conditions. The main drivers will be extremely dry fuels, low relative humidity, and increased winds, with gusts up to 19 miles per hour in the afternoon.

Fire growth is anticipated along the south and east flanks of the Gales Fire, particularly in Delp Creek and Purdue Creek toward Ironside Mine above Christy Creek, in Portland Creek toward Alpine Ridge, and south toward Evangeline and Chalk Creeks. To prepare for the potential growth, firefighters have been conducting strategic burns and creating fuel breaks, working to outflank predicted fire movement.

On the Kwis Fire, crews are continuing to mop up and conduct suppression repair, which restores exposed soil on hand and dozer lines to a more natural state.

Weather: The forecast calls for low humidity and temperatures in the mid to high 80s. Winds will increase mid-afternoon, along with instability. A frontal boundary is expected to move across the fire area late this evening into Wednesday morning. Wednesday through Friday are expected to be slightly cooler with an increase in humidity, favoring suppression efforts.

Smoke: Expect another day of poor air quality before we get a break tomorrow due to winds ahead of the front. Multiple large fires in the region have been contributing to smokey conditions in the area. Smoke travels into the atmosphere from as far away as California and settles over areas along and east of the Cascade divide when air cools at night and in the morning.

Safety: Over the next few days, expect to see heavy equipment or logging trucks entering Highway 58 near Westfir. Be cautious driving in the area and observe a safe following distance.

Closures: Areas around the fires are closed for public safety. Please respect the closure signs and barricades. Visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/willamette/alerts-notices for the latest updates.