Forest supervisor signs order Sunday closing forest areas and roads because of the Smith River Complex of fires
Rogue Valley Times staff
Air quality was very unhealthy from Ashland to Medford Tuesday afternoon as wildfire smoke socked in Southern Oregon for the third day in a row.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, which had issued an air quality alert in effect until 5 p.m. Tuesday for much of southwest Oregon, at about 2 p.m. Tuesday extended the alert until 5 p.m. Thursday.
Very unhealthy air readings were recorded in Ashland, Phoenix, Talent, Jacksonville, White City, Central Point, Eagle Point and Medford at 3 p.m. Tuesday, according to the IQAir.com website. Grants Pass’ air quality was a mixture of unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy and very unhealthy at 3 p.m.
Air quality readings in Northern California were unhealthy near Yreka, and the Southern Oregon Coast recorded good to moderate readings.
The National Weather Service predicted a chance of showers Tuesday afternoon with a high of 79 in Medford, according to its website. Patchy smoke was expected Tuesday night, with continued areas of smoke Wednesday and a high of 88 in Medford. Forecasters said skies would be sunny Thursday with a high of 96.
Smoke began to pour into the Rogue Valley Thursday night, when conditions in some areas were deemed hazardous. There was a brief respite from the smoke Saturday, but skies were choked with particulates again Sunday and Monday.
A smoke forecast video posted on social media by the Medford NWS office early Tuesday showed southern Rogue Valley air quality conditions improving late Tuesday night through most of Wednesday, but worsening again late Wednesday.
A clean-air center will be open from noon to 7 p.m. at at Calvin Hall at First Presbyterian Church of Ashland, 1615 Clark Ave. This is a quiet safe place to get some respite from the smoke. It is a no-frills, clean-air space, with cool water and access to bathrooms. Well-behaved pets and service animals are welcome.
The Ashland Public Library is 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.
This story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times. Ashland.news editor Bert Etling contributed to this report.
Aug. 23: Information added about smoke shelter (clean-air center).
