August 20, 2021 4:00 a.m.  

An Air Quality Alert is in effect through Friday night at 7:00 p.m. for portions of southern Oregon.

Staff with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality have issued an Air Pollution Advisory for northeast Jackson and Klamath counties. That includes Crater Lake, Diamond Lake and areas in the southern Oregon Cascades and Siskiyou Mountains.

DEQ said wildfires burning in the region combined with forecast conditions will cause air quality levels to fluctuate and could be at unhealthy levels. 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.

DEQ said smoke levels can change rapidly depending on the weather. Go to: https://oraqi.deq.state.or.us/home/map for updated information on current conditions