LANE COUNTY – While no wildfires were reported in Lane County as of Tuesday, smoke began seeping into the southern Willamette Valley from neighboring counties this week, prompting agencies to urge residents to limit smoke exposure and to be prepared for conditions to change.
On Aug. 3, the Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) released a notice saying that smoke impacts are expected to continue until further notice.
According to the release, a shift to easterly wind is carrying smoke from wildfires in Oregon and Washington, primarily east of the Cascade crest, into the Willamette Valley. Wildfire smoke has been reducing air quality across Lane County, with the heaviest impacts expected in eastern Lane County, including Oakridge, Westfir, and the Eugene and Springfield area.
LRAPA expects short-term air quality to reach Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, with the potential for brief periods of Unhealthy, particularly overnight and during the early morning hours. 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. Outdoor workers and athletes are also at higher risk.
On July 24, the Oregon Health Authority released a statement urging people to limit smoke exposure as wildfire season intensifies. Wildfire smoke contains particles that can irritate eyes, lungs, and other organs and have a severe impact on people with chronic conditions.
People can stay safe by keeping windows and doors closed, using High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters if available, and avoiding outdoor activity.
Air purifiers can help reduce the concentration of airborne pollutants like smoke by pulling air from a room into the device using a fan, passing it through one or more filters, and then circulating the cleaned air back into the space.
The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) urges residents of the affected areas to utilize portable room air cleaners properly to maximize their effectiveness and improve indoor environments.
For maximum efficiency, AHAM suggests positioning air cleaners centrally in rooms and away from walls and obstructions. Change the filter regularly depending on the level of pollutants in the air and how often the air cleaner is used. If the filter is changing color or the level of air coming out of the air cleaner drops, it may need to be changed. Keep extra filters on hand whenever possible.
Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on the weather. Check current conditions on the EPA’s Fire & Smoke Map at fire.airnow.gov, on the Oregon Smoke Information Blog, or by downloading the free OregonAIR app on a smartphone. To learn more about protecting your health during wildfires, visit healthoregon.org/wildfires. To check current fire conditions, visit the Oregon Smoke Information Blog.
