PORTLAND, Ore. — Editor's note: The fire continued to burn Thursday, although the response was scaled down and air quality improved throughout the region.
A fire burning since Tuesday night at the Nippon Dynawave property at an industrial complex in Longview, Washington, has created smoky skies and hazardous air quality conditions Wednesday morning in Portland and Vancouver.
A large fire that started Wednesday morning at an abandoned Kmart building in Northeast Portland "isn't helping matters," said KGW meteorologist Rod Hill.
As of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Portland's air quality was "unhealthy" and in Washington, air quality levels east of Vancouver, near Orchards and in the Mill Plain area, were also categorized as "unhealthy." The Southwest Clean Air Agency (SWCAA) issued an air pollution advisory Wednesday morning for Clark and Cowlitz counties.
By Wednesday afternoon, around 4 p.m., the air quality level in Portland and across the river in Vancouver had improved to "moderate."
"It's important for residents to gauge air quality conditions where they live and take appropriate actions to protect themselves," the SWCAA said in a news release, warning that local smoke levels can rise and fall quickly, "depending on weather factors, including wind direction."
When air quality is "unhealthy," the DEQ states on its website that "everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects."
"That industrial fire [in Longview] has sent smoke down through Clark and into Multnomah counties, and at times, various reporting sites for air quality from DEQ have been reported as moderate to unhealthy, especially over parts of near downtown to eastern Multnomah County and then up through Clark County," Hill said Wednesday morning.
The fire at the paper plant in Longview started around 6 p.m. Tuesday and was still burning Wednesday morning. By Wednesday afternoon, the fire had been contained to a large wood chip pile. Hill said because the fire in Longview was expected to continue to burn through much of the day Wednesday, smoke would continue to filter south into Portland throughout the day.
"If poor air quality tends to bother you and that's a particular concern for you, you'll want to keep yourself sheltered as best you can," Hill said.
How to check the air quality in your neighborhood
The DEQ reports how clean the air is at a specific location and provides information about any possible health risks. The agency's AQI map uses a color-coded system ranging from "Good" (labeled by green dots), which means air pollution poses little to no risk, to "Hazardous" (labeled by maroon dots), meaning air quality is unhealthy for everyone.
To check the air quality in your area, go to the DEQ's Air Quality Index website. In the search box, type in your your city, state or ZIP code. You can also use the interactive air quality map
Precautions to take when air quality is unhealthy
Here is a list of precautions, provided by the SWCAA, that people should take when air quality ranks as unhealthy or worse, especially for sensitive groups. Sensitive groups include children, older adults, people who are pregnant, have hear or lung issues, including asthma and COPD, or have had a stroke.
- Stay indoors when possible.
- Limit your physical activity outdoors, such as running, bicycling, physical labor, and sports.
- Close windows in your home, if possible, and keep the indoor air clean. If you have an air conditioner, use the "recirculation" switch. Use an indoor air filter if available.
- If you do not have an air conditioner, consider finding a public place with clean, air-conditioned indoor air like a public library or a community center.
- Avoid driving, when possible. If you must drive, keep the windows closed. If you use the car's fan or air conditioning, make sure the system recirculates air from inside the car; don't pull air from outside.
- Schools and daycare providers should consider postponing outdoor activities or moving them indoors.
- N95 or N100 rated masks can help protect some people from air pollution. These masks are usually available at hardware and home repair stores. Please check with your doctor to see if this is appropriate for you.