An air quality alert remains in effect for Lane County and the south Willamette Valley through 11 a.m. Monday. Wildfires burning in the region and weather conditions are causing the air quality to reach unhealthy levels.
As of 9 a.m. Sunday, the air quality in Oakridge was hazardous, 342, while Cottage Grove was nearing unhealthy for sensitive groups, 94, and Eugene at 70, a moderate range.
Smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions. People can protect themselves and their families when smoke levels are high by:
People can check air quality conditions and advisories on the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Air Quality Index webpage at oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map, on airnow.gov or by downloading the free OregonAir app.
Many people living in the Eugene-Springfield area woke up Saturday morning to find another smoky sky and ash covering their cars thanks to the Cedar Creek Fire, which grew from 33,100 acres to 51,814 in 24 hours, forcing those in the Oakridge-Westfir area to evacuate Friday night.
The Lane Regional Air Protection Agency forecasts that a wind shift Saturday evening may bring some relief.
As of Saturday morning, air quality in Oakridge was "very unhealthy" measuring 207 on a scale to 300 according to the 24 Hour Air Quality Index. The Eugene Springfield area and Cottage Grove dealt with less smoke pollutants in the air however both were considered "unhealthy for sensitive groups," scoring 110 and 149, respectively.
Sensitive groups include children, people older than 65, pregnant women and people with heart disease or respiratory conditions.
Eugene libraries are open during regular hours this weekend and can give those in need respite from the smoky air. The downtown library at 100 W. 10th Ave. is opened 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday; the Bethel Branch at 1990 Echo Hollow Road is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday; and the Shelden Branch at 1566 Coburg Road is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday.
Live Oregon wildfire updates:Cedar Creek Fire grows to 51K acres, Vitae Springs Fire forces evacuations
The wildfires in Oregon are affecting air quality around the state.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality extended its air quality advisory for Coos, Curry, Deschutes, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, Lake, eastern Lane, Malheur, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties due to smoke from fires across Oregon and central Idaho.
DEQ expects the air quality advisory to last until at least Monday.
Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on weather. Check current conditions on the Oregon Smoke Information Blog, DEQ’s Air Quality Index, or by downloading the free OregonAIR app on your smartphone.
Additionally, DEQ reminded residents that cloth, dust and surgical masks don’t protect from the harmful particles in smoke. N95 or P100 respirators approved by NIOSH may offer protection, but they must be properly selected and worn. Select a NIOSH-approved respirator with a N, R or P alongside the number 95, 99 or 100. Respirators won’t work for children because they don’t come in children’s sizes. People with heart or lung conditions should consult their health care provider before wearing a respirator.
LRAPA expects air quality to remain degraded throughout the day, particularly for those farther to the east. A forecasted wind shift in the evening and overnight might help blow smoke away and improve air quality Sunday, LRAPA spokesperson Travis Knudsen said.
"There is a wind shift that we're anticipating will happen later on this evening and overnight tonight, which we're optimistic will help to blow the smoke in a different direction, essentially," Knudsen said.
Experts are hopeful, but not certain when the northwest winds will set, how strong they'll be or how quickly they'll blow smoke away. As of Saturday morning, the agency predicted that air quality around Lane County would improve in the evening and Sunday. By Monday, the Eugene Springfield area's air quality may return to moderate to good but "that's dependent upon the forecast," Knudsen said.
Contact reporter Tatiana Parafiniuk-Talesnick at Tatiana@registerguard.com or 541-521-7512, and follow her on Twitter @TatianaSophiaPT.