Cram Fire builds, dangerously poor air quality ahead, fire danger remains

Bend, OR (KTVZ). The Cram Fire in Northern Jefferson County and now Wasco County is producing significant smoke in the area. The winds from the northeast have pushed the smoke along the 97 corridor today and south toward Redmond and Bend. The smoke is in the unhealthy range in the Madras area and will continue to deteriorate as the evening moves along. The smoke will be transported into the region overnight as the winds stay in the 15 mph range, still from the Northeast (may shift to arriving from the SE bit light wind speeds). North winds are forecast for Wednesday, so basically, dangerously smoky conditions will be present into Wednesday as well.

The Cram Fire continues to grow and will be consuming land south and west today as the winds have shifted. With a Northeast wind, there will be growth south and southwest toward Madras and along 97.  Highway 97 has been closed in some locations and it is undetermined when it will re-open.  We have information on this website that we will continue to update.

The region warms up tomorrow, back into the 90s, and the winds will shift from the Northeast (today) to more of a northerly direction. Expect some relief from the smoke Wednesday, but this is not going away anytime soon. We will be dealing with the smoke the rest of the work week.

Highs stay in the 90s the rest of the work week and into Saturday.  I expect to see the region remain above normal as we head into the new week. Highs Sunday top out in the middle to upper 80s through at least the middle of next week.

Stay inside if you can in this unhealthy air pattern. If you do go outside, it may be a good idea to wear a mask to keep the particulate matter out of your lungs.  

This is the fire information as of Tuesday morning. Updates will be ongoing.

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