Smoke from growing Canyonville wildfire floods southern Oregon cities -- and it won’t get better soon
Posted Jul 26, 7:45 PM
Smoke from the Milepost 97 fire south of Canyonville has prompted an air quality advisory in four southern Oregon counties through the weekend. (Courtesy of Kelly Yan)
UPDATE JULY 27: Milepost 97 fire near Canyonville grows to nearly 9,000 acres
Very unhealthy levels of smoke from a growing 6,000-acre wildfire that authorities say was started Wednesday by an illegal campfire has flooded into Ashland, Medford, Grants Pass and other southern Oregon communities.
The Milepost 97 fire is burning in steep terrain along Interstate 5 one mile south of Canyonville, through private timberland, federal and tribal forests. More than 650 firefighters are expected to combat the blaze Saturday with multiple helicopters and air tankers.
The fire more than tripled in size Friday, growing along its southern and southwestern flanks. Three homes near the fire have received evacuation notices. Late Friday, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office issued a level one evacuation notice -- meaning residents should get ready -- from mileposts 88 to 83 along the west side of the interstate and on Upper Cow Creek Road from the interstate east to the base of Galesville Dam.
Smoke rises from the Milepost 97 fire south of Canyonville along Interstate 5. (Courtesy of Kelly Yan)
The blaze drew attention from motorists on Interstate 5, which remains open, and sent the choking smoke that has become a regular summer occurrence in southern Oregon sweeping into California as far south as Mount Shasta.
Here's the smoke forecast for this evening. Expect smoke in the Rogue Valley and in the Shasta Valley as well. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an Air Quality Advisory: oregon.gov/newsroom/pages… Follow @OregonDEQ for updates #ORwx #CAwx #MP97Fire #smoke
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In a news release, the Douglas Forest Protective Association said the fire initially spread through a scar that burned in the late 1980s and had numerous standing dead trees. The association said its preliminary investigation showed an illegal campfire had sparked the blaze. No suspects have been announced.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory for Curry, Jackson, Josephine and Klamath counties as unhealthy levels of particulate jumped. Unhealthy air will linger through the weekend and into next week, state officials said.
The agency said the smoke was thick enough that the air was considered unhealthy for everyone. It spiked Friday night in Medford and Ashland to levels the agency considers “very unhealthy.” In a news release, the department warned that smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs and make some medical conditions worse. Small children, older adults, pregnant women and people suffering from heart disease or respiratory problems are particularly at-risk, the agency said.
The advisory is in place until at least Monday, when environmental officials will revisit air monitoring data.
According to @ORDeptForestry: Weather patterns won't change over wknd into early next wk. Wind flow will be mostly to NW during afternoons, turning to N overnight. Little #smoke relief for #Medford & @cityofashland areas.
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To track air quality in coming days, visit the Department of Environmental Quality’s air monitoring page.
The Oregon Department of Forestry is posting updates about the fire on a dedicated Facebook page.
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