MEDFORD, Ore. We’re learning, the impacts from wildfire smoke are increasing in our area, over time. A new report from the DEQ shows how intense those impacts are to our air quality.
The DEQ’s report shows a trend, unhealthy air quality days are rising across Oregon. With the rise in large wildfires, doctors say breathing in wildfire smoke could be harmful long term.
Oregon’s DEQ says, in 2020 Oregonians experienced the worst air quality ever recorded in the state. While the 2020 fire season was shorter, the DEQ says it was more intense.
“We might see more intense wildfires that produce higher concentrations of smokes and so they might not last as long, but the intensity of the poor air quality could be worse,” said Tom Roick with Oregon DEQ.