Strong easterly winds pushed wildfire smoke west into Lane County starting late Monday night, causing sometimes hazardous air quality.
Lane County Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) spokesperson Travis Knudsen said smoke levels can be inconsistent. “Our air quality really is varying greatly depending on where you’re at," he said, "for example places like Oak Ridge right now or even Cottage Grove, air quality is not as bad as other parts of the county.”
Knudsen said winds pushed smoky air as far west as Florence and the coast. Springfield and Eugene are also seeing smoke from a fire that started near McKenzie Bridge overnight. When smoke is at unhealthy levels, Knudsen advises to close doors and windows, check air filters and keep an eye on air monitoring websites.
Knudsen said to expect unhealthy air through Tuesday, with a wind shift Wednesday perhaps providing a reprieve for a couple of days.
