Oregon DEQ issues new air quality advisory for Deschutes County due to more smoke from wildfires

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory Wednesday for Deschutes County due to smoke from wildfires in the region.

The La Pine area saw air quality plunge to the very unhealthy levels Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, improving later in the day, as did some Bend-area readings that dropped to unhealthy or moderate.

The Little Lava Fire west of La Pine saw increased activity Tuesday amid warm, dry conditions, officials said.

To the north, a new wildfire, the Bingham Fire, was reported Monday evening east of Marion Forks in the Mt. Jefferson Wilderness and Willamette National Forest and grew to more than 180 acres by Wednesday.

DEQ said it expects the air quality advisory to last until at least Thursday evening. DEQ and partner agencies will continue to monitor smoke in the area.

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:

·       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