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Wildfires cloud air quality in area
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| H&N photo by Andrew Mariman Smoke fills the air at the Fletcher fire near Lakeview. Haze from wildfires can obscure views and hurt air quality. |
July 19, 2007
Fire season in the Klamath Basin often brings smoke that obscures views and hurts air quality. A wildfire near Happy Camp, Calif., is responsible for smoke-filled skies in Klamath Falls earlier this week.
In Lakeview, health officials declared a health advisory as smoke from the Fletcher fire on the Oregon-California border began to affect the community, while smoke from the Happy Camp fire in Siskiyou County, Calif., moved into the Basin Tuesday.
Klamath Falls and Lakeview have had two and four days, respectively, of moderate air quality rankings in the past month. The rest of the days earned “good” rankings by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Tuesday and Wednesday were moderate air quality days for both communities.
Poor air quality can negatively affect people with respiratory and sensitive health issues.
So far, despite visibly smoky skies, air quality in the most heavily populated areas”Klamath Falls, Lakeview and Alturas”hasn’t been bad, officials say.
But health experts recommend residents pay attention to air quality forecasts and advisories.
Better than average
Marilyn Sutherland, director of Klamath County Public Health, said rankings indicate a better-than-average air quality for the season.
Sutherland said Mother Nature also can lend a helping hand in air quality as it did Wednesday when showers fell in the area around Klamath Falls and Lakeview, cleaning the air.
Mary Wilkie, Lake County public health administrator, said there was one incident when a resident with sensitive respiratory health was affected, but it was not life threatening.
“It’s been good within the last week,” she said.
Modoc County
The state of California does not monitor air quality in Modoc County because the area doesn’t have problems with ozone and with other air pollutants for prolonged periods.
Kate Haas, Modoc County air pollution inspector, said so far it was a particularly good year for air quality in Alturas, especially given the drier-than-average conditions and propensity for fires.
The Northern California county can be affected by fires near Redding and Reno. Smoke from the Fletcher fire and in Happy Camp, Calif., to the west has not affected the area.
“Our air quality is great,” she said. “You guys are just getting hammered.”
” Ty Beaver
Fire season in the Klamath Basin often brings smoke that obscures views and hurts air quality. A wildfire near Happy Camp, Calif., is responsible for smoke-filled skies in Klamath Falls earlier this week.
In Lakeview, health officials declared a health advisory as smoke from the Fletcher fire on the Oregon-California border began to affect the community, while smoke from the Happy Camp fire in Siskiyou County, Calif., moved into the Basin Tuesday.
Klamath Falls and Lakeview have had two and four days, respectively, of moderate air quality rankings in the past month. The rest of the days earned “good” rankings by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Tuesday and Wednesday were moderate air quality days for both communities.
Poor air quality can negatively affect people with respiratory and sensitive health issues.
So far, despite visibly smoky skies, air quality in the most heavily populated areas”Klamath Falls, Lakeview and Alturas”hasn’t been bad, officials say.
But health experts recommend residents pay attention to air quality forecasts and advisories.
Better than average
Marilyn Sutherland, director of Klamath County Public Health, said rankings indicate a better-than-average air quality for the season.
Sutherland said Mother Nature also can lend a helping hand in air quality as it did Wednesday when showers fell in the area around Klamath Falls and Lakeview, cleaning the air.
Mary Wilkie, Lake County public health administrator, said there was one incident when a resident with sensitive respiratory health was affected, but it was not life threatening.
“It’s been good within the last week,” she said.
Modoc County
The state of California does not monitor air quality in Modoc County because the area doesn’t have problems with ozone and with other air pollutants for prolonged periods.
Kate Haas, Modoc County air pollution inspector, said so far it was a particularly good year for air quality in Alturas, especially given the drier-than-average conditions and propensity for fires.
The Northern California county can be affected by fires near Redding and Reno. Smoke from the Fletcher fire and in Happy Camp, Calif., to the west has not affected the area.
“Our air quality is great,” she said. “You guys are just getting hammered.”
” Ty Beaver
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| Rain assists firefighters |
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