As wildfires continue throughout the state, please continue to take care of yourselves and those around you. Keep an eye on local conditions in case evacuation levels change and find resources at wildfire.oregon.gov.
On Monday, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Lane Regional Air Protection Agency and the Southwest Washington Clean Air Agency extended an air quality advisory for all regions of Oregon and Southwest Washington due to smoke from fires in Oregon, Washington and California.
DEQ expects the air quality advisory to last at least through Thursday.
Smoke levels are fluctuating between unhealthy and hazardous for Oregon and Southwest Washington. When smoke levels are hazardous everyone needs to take steps to protect themselves.
Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on weather.
The Oregon Health Authority encourages the public to follow these tips to protect yourself and your family:
- Stay indoors as much as possible.
- Limit activity outdoors.
- If you have heart or lung disease or respiratory illnesses such as asthma, follow your health care provider’s advice about prevention and treatment of symptoms.
- Reduce other sources of smoke, such as cigarette smoking and wood-burning stoves, for example.
- Check current air quality conditions. Go to oregonsmoke.blogspot.com to find the current air quality and wildfire smoke resources.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water.
- Remember that while cloth masks and face coverings do not protect you from wildfire smoke, they do offer protection against COVID-19. N95 respirators may offer some protection if properly fit-tested and worn. Otherwise, they may create a false sense of security. N95s are not available in children’s sizes.
- Learn more about the dangers of wildfire smoke and how you can stay safe by visiting healthoregon.org/wildfires.
