UPDATE #4 Smoke from 36 Pit Wildfire Rolling into Willamette Valley as Fire Grows to 2,300 Acres
UPDATE: Video from the Salem area of the smoke rolling into the valley Monday afternoon.
(SALEM, Ore. ) — Smoke from the 36 Pit Fire is making it's way into the mid-Willamette Valley this afternoon.
The fire has grown from 1,000 acres to an estimated 2,300 acres at this time.
The Mt. Hood National Forest has requested a Type 2 Incident Management Team and it is expected to arrive this evening.
About 100 fire personnel are currently managing the fire. Additional resources have been ordered and will be arriving throughout the day.
The fire is burning in grass and timber about 10 miles southeast of Estacada along Highway 224 near milepost 36.
The town of Estacada is not threatened at this time.
The highway is closed at mile post 35 on Highway 224 for the safety of firefighters and the public.
Lazy Bend Campground and Work Center have been evacuated and are closed until further notice. The La Dee Flats OHV Area remains closed. The Estacada Fire Department has evacuated the
Silver Fox RV Park and the Red Cross has set up an Evacuation Center at First Baptist Church in Estacada.
The public may call 503-668-1719 for fire information.
PLEASE do not call 9-1-1 for fire or smoke information.
As of 6:00 p.m. Monday night the following resources will be working on the fire:
7 Initial Attack Crews
5 Hot Shot Crews
1 large Type 1 Helicopter
1 medium Type 2 Helicopter
1 bulldozer
4 engines
2 Water Tenders
Oregon DEQ says currently air quality levels in Salem and Keizer are in the Unhealthy for sensitive groups range as of 1:22 p.m. Albany and Corvallis are also in this range as well.
UPDATE at 3:00 p.m.: DEQ says the air quality in most of the mid-Willamette Valley is now in the unheathly range, and could stay there until Tuesday morning.
Wildfire smoke and your health:
Smoke is made up of primarily small particles, gases and water vapor, with trace amounts of hazardous air pollutants. The most harmful are the small particles, or particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter (100 micrometers is the diameter of a human hair).
These particles can be inhaled deeply into the lungs, damaging lung tissue and causing respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Wildfire can be a significant source of air pollution in Oregon and can pose a major health risk.
Symptoms from short-term smoke exposure can range from scratchy throat, cough, irritated sinuses, headaches, runny nose and stinging eyes. People with asthma, emphysema, congestive heart disease and other existing medical conditions can have more serious reactions.
The elderly and children are also high-risk groups.
Public health officials urge that people in the affected area:
- Reduce the amount of time spent outdoors. This can provide some protection, especially in a tightly closed, air-conditioned house in which the air conditioner set to re-circulate instead of bringing in the outdoor air.
- Reduce the amount of time engaged in vigorous outdoor physical activity. This can be an important and effective strategy to decrease exposure to inhaled air pollutants and minimize health risks during a smoke event.
- Reduce other sources of indoor pollution such as burning cigarettes and candles, using gas, propane and wood burning stoves and furnaces, cooking and vacuuming.
- Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
- Individuals with heart disease or lung diseases such as asthma should follow their health care providers' advice about prevention and treatment of symptoms.
- Anyone experiencing health problems from the smoke is urged to call his/her health care provider for advice or seek care at an urgent care center.
- Anyone experiencing a medical emergency should call 9-1-1 or go to an emergency department immediately.
Jefferson School District: Due to the poor air quality, Monday's after school sports activities may be limited or cancelled.
Salem News Journal will have more on this story as soon as it becomes available
Smoke moving in at 1:30pm Monday Sept. 15
