Flat Fire Triggers Evacuation Notices

On Friday, Aug. 22, the Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilized three structural task forces and its Red Incident Management Team to the Flat Fire burning in Jefferson County. The fire, which started Thursday, is burning west of Culver, prompting level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation notices. Gusty winds, low humidity and warm temperatures caused the fire to grow to 3,300 by Friday morning. Winds, at the time, were pushing the fire in a southern direction. Crooked River Ranch was placed under evacuation notice as a precaution to give residents time to load large animals and alert elderly neighbors. The latest evacuation notices can be found on the Jefferson County Sheriff’s facebook page and the Deschutes County Sheriff’s facebook page. The cause of the fire has not been determined.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory Friday, Aug. 22, due to smoke from the Flat Fire in Jefferson County.

The following areas are affected:
• Deschutes County
• Jefferson County
• Western Crook County

DEQ expect the air quality advisory to last until at least Monday evening, Aug. 25.

Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on weather. Check current conditions on the Oregon Smoke Information Blog, DEQ’s Air Quality Index or by downloading the free OregonAIR app on your smartphone.

Smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions. People most at risk include infants and young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people.

Protect yourself and your family when smoke levels are high:

Stay inside if possible. Keep windows and doors closed. If it’s too hot, run air conditioning on recirculate or consider moving to a cooler location.
Avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
Use high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters in indoor ventilation systems or portable air purifiers. Or create your own air purifying filter by following these instructions.
Be aware of smoke in your area and avoid places with the highest levels.
When air quality improves to moderate or healthy (yellow or green on the Air Quality Index), open windows and doors to air out homes and businesses.
If you have a breathing plan for a medical condition, be sure to follow it and keep any needed medications refilled.

Cloth, dust and surgical masks don’t protect from the harmful particles in smoke. N95 or P100 respirators approved by NIOSH may offer protection, but they must be properly selected and worn. Select a NIOSH-approved respirator with a N, R or P alongside the number 95, 99 or 100. Learn how to put on and use a respirator.Respirators won’t work for children as they don’t come in children’s sizes. People with heart or lung conditions should consult their health care provider before wearing a respirator.