Shifting winds to carry smoke from California fires into the Rogue Valley
Ashland.news staff report
An air quality alert issued Sunday afternoon by the Medford office of the National Weather Service (NWS) says wildfires burning in the region combined with forecast conditions will cause air quality levels to fluctuate, possibly into unhealthy levels. The advisory remains in effect until 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Current smoke conditions are available at aqi.oregon.gov.
Smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions, the advisory cautions. People most at risk include infants and young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people.
It’s recommended people stay inside if possible. Keep windows and doors closed. If it’s too hot, run air conditioning on recirculate or consider moving to a cooler location. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
The Ashland Public Library is available for those looking for a place to get out of the smoke. It’s open noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays.
The Ashland Police Department is handing out N95 masks at its headquarters at 1155 E. Main St.
Email Ashland.news Executive Editor Bert Etling at betling@ashland.news or call or text him at 541-631-1313.
