| Don’t forget to check the Air Quality Index when you’re on vacation or travel in the U.S. Get the daily AQI forecast for the city you’re visiting on the AirNow website, by signing up for free EnviroFlash email notifications, or by downloading the AirNow app for iPhone and Android – all available at www.airnow.gov. Find out about the overall air quality in an area before you visit. AirCompare provides local air quality information to help you make informed, health-protective decisions about moving or vacationing. This easy-to-use tool can tell you what time of year an area has the best air quality, and whether the air quality has improved . AirCompare allows you to compare air quality between counties, based on specific health concerns or activity level. You can also use AirCompare to get the monthly average of unhealthy air quality days for up to 10 counties within one state or multiple states. Also check out the air quality in National Parks. |
Who is at greatest risk from wildfire smoke?
- People who have heart or lung diseases, like congestive heart failure, angina, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (including emphysema), or asthma, are at higher risk from wildfire smoke. In general, people with these conditions are at higher risk of having health problems than healthy people.
- Older adults are more likely to be affected by smoke. This may be due to their increased risk of heart and lung diseases.
- Children are more likely to be affected by health threats from smoke. Children's airways are still developing and they breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults. In addition, children often spend more time outdoors engaged in activity and play.
Take steps to decrease your risk from wildfire smoke.
- Check local air quality reports. Listen and watch for news and health warnings about smoke. Check the Oregon department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Air Quality Index at http://www.deq.state.or.us/aqi/index.aspx . Also pay attention to public health messages about taking safety measures.
- Consult local visibility guides. Our community has a monitor that measures the amount of particles that are in the air. Did you know that you can pick up a chart at the Klamath County Public Health Department that gives a guide on how to monitor the air or check the visibility chart at http://www.deq.state.or.us/aq/burning/wildfires/visibility.htm .
- Keep indoor air as clean as possible: if you are advised to stay indoors. Keep windows and doors closed. Run an air conditioner if you have one, but keep the fresh-air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent outdoor smoke from getting inside. If you do not have an air conditioner and it is too warm to stay inside with the windows closed, seek shelter in a designated evacuation center or away from the affected area.
- Avoid activities that increase indoor pollution. Burning candles, fireplaces, or gas stoves can increase indoor pollution. Vacuuming stirs up particles already inside your home, contributing to indoor pollution. Smoking also puts even more pollution into the air.
- Prevent wildfires from starting. Prepare, build, maintain and extinguish campfires safely. Comply or the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/Pages/index.aspx with local regulations if you plan to burn yard debris. Check with your local fire department to be sure the weather is safe enough for burning.
- Follow the advice of your doctor or other healthcare provider about medicines and about your respiratory management plan if you have asthma or another lung disease. Consider evacuating the area if you are having trouble breathing. Call for further advice if your symptoms worsen.
- Do not rely on dust masks for protection. Paper "comfort" or "dust" masks commonly found at hardware stores are designed to trap large particles, such as sawdust. These masks will not protect your lungs from the small particles found in wildfire smoke.
- Evacuate from the path of wildfires. Listen to the news to learn about current evacuation orders. Follow the instructions of local officials about when and where to evacuate. Take only essential items with you. Follow designated evacuation routes, others may be blocked, and expect heavy traffic.
- Travelers' Health Friday May 1st
As of Monday April 20, 2015, we have stopped issuing the regular Air Quality and Woodstove use Advisory. We will continue to issue advisories for our schools, agricultural community and residents with respiratory problems when necessary. The Air Quality Advisory will continue through the summer on the following web page www.klamathair.org and by phone message at 541-882-BURN (2876)
The use of non-certified woodstoves and fireplaces as well as certified wood stoves and pellet stoves are allowed countywide until October 15, 2015. Outdoor burning is prohibited inside the Air Quality Zone.
Outdoor or open burning is allowed outside the Air Quality Zone provided the requirements of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Department of Forestry and the local fire district are met.
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's scale for rating air quality - The data displayed are the most current available.
- All readings are preliminary and unvalidated. Following final review, all values are subject to change.
- New AQI readings will be available at approximately 15-20 minutes past the hour. The AQI map will refresh asynchronously at this time.
The units ppm and µg/m3 stand for parts per million and micrograms per cubic meter, respectively. Both are used in the measurement of air pollutant concentration.
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