August 4, 2021 2:00 p.m. 

An Air Quality Alert is in effect until 4:00 p.m. Friday for central Douglas County and much of southern Oregon.

Staff from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality said there is a high concentration of smoke particulates from the numerous fires in the area.

The Alert area also includes Curry, Josephine, Jackson, Lake and Klamath counties.

The DEQ’s Alert said smoke can irritate the eyes and  lungs and can worsen some medical conditions. People most at risk to adverse health effects include infants, young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant women.

Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on the weather. Check current conditions at: https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map