Local tourism
promotion groups--as well as businesses and residents--were looking for a
breath of fresh air (literally) in mid-August as smoke from wildfires enveloped
Central Oregon in a brownish gray haze.
Put another way if you don’t get a second chance to make
a first impression, a visitor could very well have come and gone wondering
“where are the mountains” in those brochures.
Air quality monitors for an extended period were edging
into the unhealthy range, especially for “sensitive” groups with respiratory
issues. And most locals and visitors were plagued by burning eyes and
irritated noses, even prompting some of Bend’s hardcore outdoor enthusiasts to
cut back on their activities.
On Aug. 23 the air quality index (AQI) as reported by the Oregon Department of Environmental
Quality reached the unhealthy level of 155, and was gauged as unsafe for
sensitive groups (USFG) at 130 the following day.
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| Bend's Air Quality Index |
Tuesday, Aug. 25 provided
some respite as the index dropped to 88, or moderate.
Meanwhile, National Guard troops from Bend and other
areas of Oregon headed east to the John Day River Basin to help in fighting the
Canyon Creek Fire that by Aug. 26 has reached nearly 75,000 acres and was only
42% contained. The fire has claimed
dozens of homes and many outbuildings since starting Aug. 12.
Less than 75 miles to the north of Bend a wildfire on the
Warm Springs Reservation was over 65,000 acres early Aug. 26, but was
reportedly 70% contained.
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| The Okanogan Complex fire in Washington |
Much larger fires were burning in Washington state
including the Chelan and Okanogan complexes, at 80,412 and 280,267 acres
respectively, the latter registered as the largest wildfire in the state’s
history and only 17% contained.
Altogether the incident information system, InciWeb, of
the Northwest Coordinating Group for wildfires reported 29 active fires in
Washington state early Aug. 26, and 19 active blazes in Oregon.
In terms of acreage the Washington blazes totaled 902,200
acres or more than 1,400 square miles and Oregon, 453,539 acres or 708 square
miles.
Adding to the smoky skies were wildfires that continue to
burn in Northern California, Idaho and British Columbia. But the Bend area thus far has been spared nearby fires that have threatened homes, unlike the hundreds of Northwest residents who have lost their homes, livestock and pets. And, most tragic, has been the deaths of three young firefighters in the Methow Valley of Washington
