Deschutes County under air quality advisory alert through Monday

Published 8:15 pm Thursday, July 27, 2023

Smoke rises from the Bedrock Fire on Tuesday. The blaze is burning 12 miles south of Vida.

An air quality advisory for Deschutes County has been extended into next week as smoke from wildfires in other parts of the state continues to pour into Central Oregon.

The advisory will expire on Monday night, with the possibility of another extension,

according to a news release from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

The advisory also includes eastern Lane County.

An advisory on air quality has been in place all week due to smoke that is primarily coming from the Bedrock Fire burning in forested areas east of Eugene, according to the release. The blaze grew to 7,156 acres, as of Thursday morning and was zero percent contained, according to InciWeb. The Flat Fire in southwest Oregon is another reported source of smoke that is spreading across the state. The blaze burning in Curry County had reached 23,678 acres by Thursday morning. Containment was listed at 4%.

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The worst air in the state recorded Thursday morning was in southwest Bend, where the air quality index reached 244 at 10 a.m. At that level the air quality is considered “very unhealthy” and most individuals are recommended to stay indoors.

State air quality officials say that over the coming days the worst air is expected to occur overnight and in the early morning hours. Smoke levels can change rapidly and depend on weather conditions and wind.

When the air reaches unhealthy levels the agency advises people to avoid outdoor strenuous activities, stay inside when possible and ventilate indoor areas. An N95 mask offers more protection than surgical masks when outside.

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