Wildfires burned more than 800,000 acres, a record-setting heat wave killed at least 96 people and smoke infiltrated the lungs of countless Oregonians during the summer of 2021.
As this summer approaches, experts and emergency officials are urging Oregonians to prepare for hotter weather, wildfires and smoke 鈥� even as a cool, wet spring delays their arrival.
鈥淜nowing the things that we can do and taking care of it now is the best way to prepare yourself,鈥� said Carrie Nyssen, senior director of advocacy for the American Lung Association.
Here are a few tips to stay safe:
Where can I find up-to-date fire information?
The National Interagency Fire Center keeps a in each state. That tells you how many fires are active, how many are contained and how many are new.
For more detail, the National Wildfire Coordinating Group鈥檚 incident information system, known as , is a regularly updated map of fires across the West. Public information officers post updates on specific fires along with photos and video.
The also posts periodic updates about potential smoke hazards from fires burning in and out of state.
What if I need to evacuate?
Evacuation orders during a wildfire are handled by your local law enforcement agency or sheriff鈥檚 office. There are three levels of evacuation orders:
The state of Oregon , medicines, an emergency power source like batteries or wireless chargers, and important documents. The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers a to pack in your go-bag in the case of evacuation.
People should be prepared to spend several days away from home at minimum.
How can I protect myself from wildfire smoke?
Whether a fire is at our doorstep or not, smoke has become a regular part of summers in the Northwest.
Nyssen with the American Lung Association said it鈥檚 important for people to monitor air quality during fire season.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality provides an and mobile app called OregonAir that display the air quality index. Third-party apps like Air Visual or government apps like AirNow from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can also provide helpful information about air quality.
In the absence of internet access, Nyssen said people can also use a simple sight or smell test.
鈥淚f we can smell our air and if we can see the air, those are likely indicators that the air quality is not good and is very likely unhealthy,鈥� Nyssen said.
Wildfire smoke is mostly made up of small particles that, if inhaled, . The effects of wildfire smoke are especially harmful to people with asthma or chronic respiratory or cardiovascular diseases, as well as older adults, children, pregnant people and smokers.
Public health agencies will often advise people to stay indoors if they can during periods of heavy smoke, but even then it鈥檚 important to take steps to keep indoor air clean.
鈥淎ir is air,鈥� Nyssen said. 鈥淚f we have our windows open or our doors are open, there鈥檚 nothing to stop the bad air from coming into our homes.鈥�
People can keep their air cleaner by keeping doors and windows closed and making sure air conditioners, if they have them, are circulating indoor air with a clean filter. People should avoid burning candles, using gas stoves or vacuuming.
Air purifiers can also help clean indoor air, but supplies can run low during periods of high demand, so it鈥檚 a good idea to buy one before you need it.
For people who must be outside, it鈥檚 recommended you wear an N95 respirator approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Administration offers guides on fitting masks in and .
Oregon also from hazardous conditions like heat and smoke.
Where can I go to find clean air or stay cool?
Oregon is working to create more spaces for people to find refuge from poor air quality as well as extreme heat and cold.
The Oregon Department of Human Services recently received $7 million in funding to help build more cooling and warming shelters and clean-air sanctuaries in communities across the state.
鈥淚t鈥檚 filling critical gaps in local capability to ensure the best possible access to these public facilities when people need them,鈥� said Ed Flick, director of DHS鈥� Office of Resilience and Emergency Management.
Local governments, public education providers, and tribal nations by notifying Oregon DHS. Flick said the department has already received dozens of applications. Funds will remain available through June 2023, or until they run out.
While construction of new cooling, warming and clean-air shelters may take time, DHS also has hundreds of available air-scrubbing machines to help service providers set up clean air stations.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a number of wonderful organizations that provide these services in communities now,鈥� Flick said. 鈥淲hat we hope is that through the provisioning of this equipment is that the spaces will be better able to meet the needs of Oregonians.鈥�
People can find more information about available cooling, warming or clean-air centers by calling 211 or visiting .
Copyright 2022 Oregon Public Broadcasting. To see more, visit .