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3h ago

Smoke and Ozone Alerts Through Monday in Oregon as Flat Fire Drives Unhealthy Air

Officials say wildfire smoke combined with forecasted conditions will push pollution to unhealthy levels through Monday.

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Multiple wildfires burning across Oregon are expected to bring unhealthy air quality to parts of the state.
The northern line of the Patton Meadow Fire blazes over a ridgeline on August 16, 2021 near Lakeview, Oregon.

Overview

  • The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued a Smoke Air Quality Advisory for Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties through Monday evening, covering communities from Bend and Redmond to Sisters and Madras.
  • The DEQ and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency set an additional advisory for ozone from 10 a.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Monday for parts of the Willamette Valley and the Portland metro.
  • Smoke is linked to the Flat Fire burning about 3 miles west of Lake Billy Chinook, reported around 3,300 to 3,386 acres on Friday with the cause under investigation and zero containment noted in one report.
  • Air quality readings ranged from unhealthy to very unhealthy, with AQI near Sisters reported at 176 by one source and as high as 281 on oregonsmoke.org.
  • Health guidance urges residents—especially children, seniors and those with heart or lung disease—to limit outdoor activity, stay indoors when possible, and follow medical advice as firefighters work to contain the blaze.