July 26, 2019 10:40 a.m. 
The Milepost 97 Fire is contributing to unhealthy air in the Rogue Valley, according to forecasters with the National Weather Service in Medford.
A statement on the Jackson County Health and Human Services website said people with pre-existing health conditions such as asthma, or other chronic respiratory conditions and cardiovascular disease, people older than age 65, infants and children, pregnant women, and smokers are particularly sensitive to wildfire smoke.
Mid-morning Friday air quality readings from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality showed Grants Pass, Medford and Ashland with air that is classified as being unhealthy.
Ashland’s reading of 186 was the worst, followed by Medford at 173 and Grants Pass at 160. Those 3 cities were the only places in Oregon breathing unhealthy air. The Applegate Valley and Pendleton had air classified in the moderate quality level while all other reporting locations showed air being in the good category. A reading of 200 is considered very unhealthy.
Winds in the area of the Milepost 97 Fire have been blowing generally to the south.