Air quality advisories in Deschutes County impact outdoor activities during Labor Day weekend
Claire Elmer
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Labor Day weekend in Central Oregon usually means playgrounds full of children, parks full of people, and outdoor enjoyment for many as it marks the last long weekend before school starts.
But this year, smoke from the Emigrant Fire has changed holiday plans, leaving many outdoor spaces much quieter than usual, and causing cancellation of a much-anticipated concert in the Old Mill on Friday.
As of this weekend, the fire has grown to nearly 20,000 acres with zero percent containment. While it’s not threatening homes, its smoke is making its way into Central Oregon, prompting air quality advisories in parts of Deschutes and Klamath counties.
The Oregon DEQ says our region’s geography can make smoke impacts unpredictable. KTVZ spoke with Jennifer Horton, air quality coordinator for Oregon DEQ, about smoke and its impacts in our region.
“There are some river valleys in Central Oregon that can impact how smoke moves throughout the community. What we see a lot of times is smoke will be able to lift up and disperse during the day, but as temperatures cool overnight, a lot of times smoke is pulled back down those river drainages towards communities,” said Horton.
The concern comes from tiny smoke particles called PM 2.5 that can affect the lungs and heart.
“As those smoke levels increase, the PM 2.5 levels also increase. It can create some health impacts for individuals, especially if you have any preexisting conditions. People who are elderly or very young and people who work outside need to be especially careful of monitoring the air quality levels and keeping an eye on that AQI (air quality index),” said Horton.
To limit exposure, it is recommended you keep your windows closed at night, run air purifiers, and keep strenuous outdoor activity to a minimum.
“Not having air conditioning does make it a bit harder to close those windows overnight. But if you’re able to, that is one of the best ways to keep smoke out of your home. If you have a portable air filtration device, make sure and run that,” recommended Horton.
Officials remind the community the best thing you can do is stay informed on conditions in your area. This Labor Day, Central Oregon’s outdoors may not be as busy as usual, but experts say keeping safe until skies clear is the best way to enjoy the holiday.