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September 10, 2022
Smoke from wildfires in Idaho, Washington and Oregon is blanketing the Portland metro area, prompting health officials to issue an advisory today, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022. Mandatory wood burning limit For residents in Multnomah County. This restriction does not apply to cooking. There is an exemption for people in emergency situations.
The air quality burn limit goes into effect at noon today, and will be lifted as conditions improve. Posted on air quality tips multco.us/woodsmokestatus. Conditions are expected to improve on Sunday.
The ban comes with it The Maltomah County Fire Protection Board has issued burn bans. An air quality advisory for Fire Safety and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality notes that Multnomah County will see periods of poor air quality through Saturday.
This is the fifth warm-season burn ban — also known as a red day — since the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners extended it. The county’s wood smoke ban ordinance Year-round in February 2022, and the first this year due to wildfire smoke and particulate pollution. The others are due to ozone pollution levels on hot days.
With most of Multnomah County in the Moderate Air Quality Index (AQI) category, conditions are expected to worsen this Saturday afternoon with rising temperatures before experiencing some relief by Sunday afternoon. Air quality may reach AQI levels of unhealthy for sensitive groups (orange) and unhealthy for all (red).
Visit for information about cool places Help during heating. Protect your health and reduce pollution.
People at risk
People at risk from smoke exposure include pregnant women, children, people with pre-existing heart disease, people with chronic lung disease and the elderly.
People who work outside the home are also at higher risk. For those who must work, wear a properly fitted N95-rated mask and take a break inside a structure or in your car.
What should you do?
Stay indoors with windows and doors closed (temperature permitting). If it’s too hot indoors, find cool indoor air.
- Avoid spending time outdoors, and do vigorous exercise outdoors.
- If available, set the AC to recirculate, use an air purifier with a HEPA filter, or build your own DIY air purifier.
- Avoid being on the road if visibility worsens.
Monitor air quality near you:
- The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a phone app for monitoring air quality.
- If that’s too much, you can find other links below or to air quality maps on our website.
When air quality improves (yellow or green AQI), even temporarily, ventilate your home to reduce indoor air pollution. People who are too hot to stay in homes with windows closed or who are at risk of smoke-related health problems should seek shelter elsewhere.
Know the signs
Commonly reported symptoms of wildfire smoke include a scratchy throat, stinging or watery eyes, stuffy nose, sinus irritation, coughing, difficulty breathing, and fatigue or dizziness.
Mild symptoms of smoke exposure usually include:
- Cough
- Headache
- Burning eyes
- sore throat
- Sputum production
- Breathing changes
A dry cough, sore throat, and difficulty breathing are common to wildfire smoke exposure and covid-19. If you believe you may be experiencing symptoms of Covid-19, contact your doctor. But smoke exposure can cause serious and life-threatening respiratory problems, including heart attack and stroke. If you are in distress, call 9-1-1 immediately.
Air quality measurement
Wildfires and smoke engulf the West Coast. Some air quality controls may have lost power. Air quality web systems can be periodically overloaded with traffic, causing web-based maps to be delayed or not loaded. For air quality information, visit:
- Oregon Smoke BlogLocal, state, tribal and federal organizations coordinate to share information about wildfires and smoke.
- Oregon air quality mapThe state Department of Environmental Quality has updated its current air quality map. The site may slow down or crash due to high traffic. The sites below offer good options.
- EPA air quality mapThe US Environmental Protection Agency releases real-time air quality data from Oregon and Washington states.
- Oregon state fire hazard mapThe Oregon Office of Emergency Management has updated its active fire, air quality and closure map.
Visibility
If you can’t find AQI data, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality shares it. 5-3-1 Visibility index It helps to estimate the amount of smoke:
- Five miles: Air quality is generally good.
- Three to five miles: Air quality is unhealthy for young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with heart or lung disease, asthma, or other respiratory problems.
- Less than three miles: Air quality is not healthy for everyone.
- Less than a mile: The air quality is not healthy for everyone.
Your body
Healthy people exposed to smoke may have only mild symptoms. But healthy people can have chronic health conditions that put them at risk. Listen to your body’s signals.
If your eyes are burning, your throat is sore, your lungs are difficult to expand, or you’re coughing, stay inside and focus on creating a “clean room” where the air is as clean as possible.
Wood burning violations
To report and extinguish a fire, call 911. Mandatory burn bans and to report suspected recreational fire smoke, contact Multnomah County Environmental Health:
Communicate wood burning restrictions;
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