Shifting winds expected to blow smoke from Flat Fire into the Rogue Valley, NWS forecasts; air quality alert extended to early Thursday morning
Ashland.news staff report
Rogue Valley areas, including Ashland, are in for reduced air quality through Wednesday night, the Medford office of the National Weather Service said Monday. Shifting weather patterns was expected to bring smoke from the Flat Fire near Agness into the valley starting Sunday evening.
An air quality alert issued Saturday was in effect until 5 p.m. Monday. On Monday, the alert was extended until 5 a.m. Thursday. Air quality is expected to reach unhealthy levels at times.
Air Quality Index reading for Ashland
Click here to see the current AQI reading for Ashland.
Smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions. People most at risk include infants and young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people.
As of Sunday evening, nearly 1,500 firefighters are battling the Flat Fire, which has grown to just more than 20,000 acres in Curry County, about 70 miles northwest of Ashland.
In other fire news, personnel from Ashland Fire & Rescue and the Oregon Department of Forestry responded to a small tree fire Sunday afternoon near the intersection of Ashland Creek Drive and Granite Street, on the paved section of Granite and within reach of a fire hydrant. It was reported knocked down shortly after 4 p.m. Sunday after blackening an estimated one-tenth of an acre. The cause was under investigation.
Email Ashland.news Executive Editor Bert Etling at betling@ashland.news or call or text him at 541-631-1313.
July 24: Updated to reflect information in an air quality alert update issued just before noon Monday, and revised information about the location and nature of a fire Sunday afternoon.
