Smoke from regional fires causing hazardous conditions in Rogue Valley

A video showing forecast smoke conditions shows high levels in Southern Oregon and Northern California as of 9 p.m. Thursday. Conditions are expected to improve midday Friday, according to the video.
August 17, 2023

Ashland AQI climbs to 435, well into ‘hazardous’ level; forecast calls for conditions to improve midday Friday

Ashland.news staff report

A National Weather Service video showing forecast smoke patterns blowing in from fires northwest, southwest and east of the Rogue Valley will continue to cause hazardous conditions through late Friday morning.

Smoke is collecting in the Rogue Valley due to fires in our region and may continue on and off for some time, the city of Ashland cautioned on its website and via phone calls to emergency alert subscribers Thursday evening.

A similar warning was posted by the Medford office of the National Weather Service, which said on social media that smoke from area wildfires is bringing diminished air quality to eastern Curry, Josephine and Jackson counties.

A video showing forecast smoke patterns blowing in from fires northwest, southwest and east of the Rogue Valley will continue to cause hazardous conditions through late Friday morning, according to the forecast.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on Thursday evening issued an Air Pollution Advisory for Jackson and Josephine counties that will be in effect until 5 p.m. Friday.

It says wildfires burning in the region, combined with forecast conditions, will cause air quality levels to fluctuate, potentially into unhealthy levels, especially Thursday evening through Friday morning.

The DEQ suggests staying inside if possible with windows and doors closed. If possible, high efficiency filters should be used to filter the air.

The city of Ashland advises residents to take precautions, especially if they are under 18, older than 65, or diagnosed with a preexisting health condition. 

As of 6 p.m., the Air Quality Index level for Ashland was at 280, well into the very unhealthy range. That spiked to 435 at 8 p.m., well into the hazardous range, and 470 at 9 p.m.

Email Ashland.news Executive Editor Bert Etling at betling@ashland.news or call or text him at 541-631-1313.

More information
Check current conditions and see air quality advisories on the Oregon Smoke Information Blog
See DEQ’s Air Quality Index
Download the free OregonAIR app 
See the Purple Air Map – For accurate readings, check the ‘US EPA conversion’ on both the ‘data layer’ and the ‘apply conversion’ dropdown menus and set the averaging period to “Real-time”
To register for the city emergency alert system (now Everbridge Citizen Alert, formerly Nixle), click here or text 97520 to 888777.
Links courtesy of the city of Ashland

Ashland’s AQI (Air Quality Index) was at 470 at 9 p.m Thursday, according to aqi.Oregon.gov.
Fires burning in areas surrounding the Rogue Valley are marked on this Inciweb map as of Thursday evening. Clockwise from far right are the Golden Fire east of Klamath Falls, the Klamath National Forest August Lightning Fires and Happy Camp Complex (including the Head Fire) west of Yreka, the Smith River Complex near Gasquet on the Redwood Highway (199), and the Flat Fire west of Grants Pass.
Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at betling@ashland.news.

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