Release date:  Aug. 13, 2018   Contact: DEQ: Katherine Benenati, Public Affairs Specialist, Eugene, 541-600-6119,  benenati.katherine@deq.state.or.us Jackson County: Tanya Phillips, Jackson County Public Health, 541-770-7708, philliTF@jacksoncounty.org Klamath County: Ramona Quinn, rquinn@co.klamath.or.us Valeree Lane, vlane@klamathcounty.org  541.882.8846 Josephine County: Michael Weber, Public Health Director, 541-474-5339, mweber@co.josephine.or.us

DEQ issues air quality advisory Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties

 

Medford, Ore.—The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality advisory for Jackson and Josephine counties and portions of Klamath County, particularly around Klamath Falls, as wildfire smoke continues to affect large portions of Southwest Oregon.

Air quality is expected to be a concern through Thursday morning. At 9 a.m. Monday morning, air quality was very unhealthy in Shady Cove, unhealthy for sensitive groups in Medford and moderate in Klamath Falls. Conditions are expected to worsen this afternoon.

Local smoke levels can rise and fall rapidly, depending on fire activity and weather factors including wind direction. Residents can view current air quality conditions at DEQ’s Air Quality Index https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map . The index is also available on smart phones. Simply search for OregonAir in your app store.

The Oregon Smoke Blog also has an air quality map that includes temporary monitors close to specific fires, daily smoke forecasts for specific areas, and other resources. Visit the Oregon Smoke Blog for more information: http://oregonsmoke.blogspot.com/   

The color-coded Air Quality Index ranks air quality as follows: Green is good. Yellow is moderate, which is unhealthy for extremely sensitive groups. Orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory conditions. Red is unhealthy for everyone. Purple is very unhealthy for all groups. Maroon is hazardous.

People can take the following precautions:

·         Be aware of smoke concentrations in your area and avoid the places with highest concentrations.

·         Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions.

·         If you have heart disease, asthma or other respiratory ailments, or are over 65, you have a higher risk of illness from wildfire smoke.

·         Small children and pregnant women are also at increased risk. These residents are encouraged to stay indoors.

·         People suffering from asthma or other respiratory problems should follow their breathing management plans or contact their healthcare providers.

 

Oregon's monitoring network does not capture air quality conditions in all communities so it is important for residents to gauge air quality conditions where they live and take appropriate actions to protect themselves.

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