Smoke from Douglas County fires drifts south toward Ashland

Ashland.news staff report

Smoke from wildfires in Douglas County prompted Jackson County Public Health to issue an air quality advisory Saturday night. The advisory is in effect through Monday, July 22. Depending on weather patterns and fire activity, air quality could be compromised for longer, the announcement said.

Additionally, a red flag warning was issued from 5 p.m. Saturday through 8 a.m. Sunday for several areas in southern Oregon, including Ashland, due to the potential for “abundant lightning on dry fuels,” the National Weather Service announced Saturday afternoon. Given how dry the fuels are, along with continued warm temperatures, lightning efficiency will be high to very high for fire starts, the NWS warned in its announcement.

A red flag warning means that critical weather conditions for fire are expected during the warning period, which could cause rapid fire spread and even life-threatening situations.

Smoke levels can rise and fall rapidly depending on weather factors, including wind direction and the amount of smoke produced by the wildfire, the announcement said. Wildfires burning in neighboring counties and states are affecting air quality in Jackson County.

Advice on air quality

Wildfire smoke is a complex mix of air pollutants that are harmful to human health. Exposure to air pollutants in wildfire smoke can irritate the lungs, cause inflammation, alter immune function, and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections.

Inhaling wildfire smoke can have immediate health effects. It can cause coughing, difficulty breathing, wheezing, asthma attacks, stinging eyes, a sore throat, a runny nose, irritated sinuses, headaches, fatigue, chest pain, and a rapid heart rate.

Population groups known to be vulnerable to exposure to wildfire smoke include:

• Children under the age of 18;

• Adults aged 65 years or older;

• Pregnant woman;

• People with chronic health problems such as heart or lung diseases, including asthma and diabetes;

• Outdoor workers;

• People with a low socio-economic status

During a heavy smoke wildfire, Jackson County health officials advise people to take the following precautions:

• Be aware of the smoke concentrations in your area and avoid areas with the highest concentrations.

• Stay indoors with doors and windows closed. Whether you have a central air conditioning system or a room unit, use high-efficiency filters to capture fine particles from smoke. Ask an air conditioning professional what type of high-efficiency filter your air conditioner can accept.

• Create a “clean room” in your home. Choose a room without a fireplace and as few windows and doors as possible, such as a bedroom. Use a portable air purifier in the room.

• Maintain good indoor air quality by not smoking, using gas, wood stoves or ovens, using aerosol sprays, baking or roasting meat, burning candles or incense, and not vacuuming.

• The Oregon Health Authority has a program to provide air conditioners and air filters to people who currently or recently qualified for medical assistance in Jackson County.

• Temporarily leave the area and go to an area with cleaner air. Go to public indoor spaces with cleaner air.

• Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated can keep your airways moist, which helps reduce symptoms of airway irritation such as a sore throat, runny nose, and cough.

• Stock up on NIOSH-approved respirators and learn how to use them. If you decide to wear a respirator, choose a particulate respirator that has the word “NIOSH” on it. If it has an “N,” “R,” or “P” on it, along with the number 95, 99, or 100, it’s OK to use. They’re sold at many hardware stores and online.

E-mail Ashland.news Editor-in-Chief Bert Etling at [email protected] or call or text him at 541-631-1313.