Originally published on July 15, 2021 6:55 pm
Even as wildfires continued to burn across Oregon on Thursday, wind offered temporary respite to many communities that have been blanketed in the heaviest wildfire smoke. But the U.S. Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program cautions there could well be more smoke to come, especially in the southern, central and eastern areas of the state.
Strong winds overnight Wednesday into Thursday cleared smoke in the Klamath Falls area, which had been heavily affected by the largest wildfire now burning in the United States — the Bootleg Fire. Smoke forecasts call for similar weather patterns overnight Thursday into Friday, with smoke likely to be heavier in the Sprague River Valley and the Harney Basin and low-lying areas.