‘A long wildfire season is ahead’: DEQ calls for preparation despite no air quality warnings in effect for first time in 42 days

(Update: Added comment from DEQ and Central Oregon Fire Management Services)

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality says for the first time in 42 days, no air quality warning has been issued for any part of the state as recent cooler temperatures and weather changes put an end to – or at least temporarily halt – the wildfire smoke that many communities have been battling.

From July 9 through Monday, the agency had issued an air quality warning for at least some parts of Oregon; the latest warning also applied to Deschutes County on Friday.

Blue skies and fresh air – many people are out and about and enjoying smoke-free air for the first time in 42 days.

“There are currently no air quality alerts in place across the state. That’s good news considering how many parts of the state have been affected by wildfires so far this season,” said Michael Loch, public affairs specialist for the Department of Environmental Quality.

According to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s public affairs specialist, there were about 58 days of air quality warnings last year. That’s about 16 more days than so far this year. Our last day with a warning in 2023 was September 24th.

“Conditions are changing and it’s important that people stay aware and follow tips to protect themselves,” Loch says. “So if an area has an air quality warning, take precautions such as avoiding strenuous outdoor activities. You could stay indoors and keep your windows and doors closed and run an air filter if you have one.”

“It’s easy to have brief lulls like we’ve had this week, but wildfire season may still be a long way ahead of us, so there may still be some air quality alerts in the future,” Loch says.

The improvement in air quality and the reduced risk of wildfires are partly due to recent cooler temperatures.

“For example, when we have these cooler temperatures at night, the moisture content of the fuel increases,” says Kaitlyn Webb, spokesperson for Central Oregon Fire Management Services. “But once it gets warmer during the day, the moisture content of the fuel drops again and it becomes very susceptible to fire.”

Despite the cooler temperatures, August is the month with the most fires in Central Oregon, according to Webb, and the fire season is now longer.

“We actually view fire activity as a fire year rather than a fire season. We are seeing activity lasting longer and starting earlier, so we should not become complacent,” Webb says.

With more fires expected, air quality alerts are expected to continue over the next month. Resources on the Air Quality Index can be found at AQI.gov. If smoke returns, people can also call 211 for information on additional resources.