The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality extended an air quality alert for parts of southern Oregon in both time and space. Now DEQ tells residents in parts of six counties to expect smoke through the weekend.The advisory says to expect at least some wildfire smoke in western Lake County, all of Klamath County, most of Jackson County, southeastern Josephine County, eastern Coos County, and all of Douglas County east of the Coast Range.
Smoke from multiple fires continues to drift into the valleys, especially toward sunset, when fires are most active. Readings from the DEQ showed Klamath Falls in the Unhealthy range for smoke on Thursday morning, with lesser smoke levels in other locations.
By afternoon, breezes reduced smoke readings to Moderate levels. Those same breezes could increase fire activity and provide another round of smoke.
The air quality advisor is in effect until Monday morning (July 23) at 11 AM.
