Mill City, Ore. — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory on Thursday, Dec. 5, for Mill City and extended an air quality advisory for Lakeview due to stagnant air conditions trapping smoke and other air pollutants near the ground where people breathe.
DEQ expects the air quality advisories to last through Saturday morning, Dec. 7.
Check current air quality conditions and advisories on DEQ’s Air Quality Index or by downloading the OregonAIR on your app on your smartphone.
County health and local air agencies may have also issued wood burning restrictions limiting the use of wood stoves, fireplaces and outdoor burning. Reducing outdoor burning and the use of wood stoves during periods of air stagnation helps improve air quality for you and your neighbors. There are often exceptions for those who use wood exclusively to heat their homes and those with limited income. Check with your local health or air agency for current restrictions.
People can take the following precautions to protect their health:
- Follow local burn restrictions to prevent deteriorating air quality.
- Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions.
- People with heart or lung problems and young children are especially vulnerable. These people should stay indoors while smoke levels are high.
- Use certified High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters in indoor heating, ventilation, cooling and air purification systems.
- Avoid using wood-burning stoves and other sources of indoor smoke if possible.
DEQ’s color-coded Air Quality Index provides current air quality conditions and ranks air quality as follows: Green is good. Yellow is moderate. Orange is unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and those with respiratory conditions. Red is unhealthy for everyone. Purple is very unhealthy for all groups. Maroon is hazardous.
DEQ: Chris Varley, Public Affairs Specialist, 503-933-0514, chris.varley@deq.oregon.gov
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality protects human health and the environment by controlling air and water pollution, reducing the impacts of manufactured products and cleaning up contaminated properties. DEQ engages the public in decision-making and helps communities solve problems in ways that are economically and environmentally sustainable.
