The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued an air quality advisory for Josephine County, including the Grants Pass area, that is expected to remain in effect through Friday evening, November 6. The advisory was issued Thursday, November 5, citing intermittent smoke from prescribed burns and local open burning operations.

What to Expect

Residents of Grants Pass and surrounding Josephine County communities should anticipate periods of reduced air quality through Friday evening as smoke drifts from nearby prescribed fire operations and local burns. Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on wind patterns, atmospheric stability, and burn activity. Some areas may experience noticeable smoke odor even when air quality readings remain at moderate levels.

DEQ advises residents to:

  • Stay indoors if possible during periods of heavy smoke
  • Keep windows and doors closed
  • Run air conditioning on recirculate mode rather than drawing in outside air
  • Avoid strenuous outdoor activity when smoke is visible or air quality is elevated
  • Wear a properly fitted N95 or KN95 respirator if outdoor activity is unavoidable

Who Is Most at Risk?

Smoke exposure carries the greatest health risks for:

  • Infants and young children
  • People with heart or lung disease, including asthma and COPD
  • Older adults
  • Pregnant people

These groups should take extra precautions and limit outdoor exposure even during moderate air quality conditions. Those with respiratory conditions should keep medications readily available and contact a healthcare provider if symptoms worsen.

Monitoring Current Conditions

Air quality conditions during prescribed burn operations can shift quickly as winds change. Residents can monitor real-time conditions through several resources:

  • The Oregon Smoke Information Blog at oregonsmoke.org
  • DEQ's Air Quality Index (AQI) dashboard
  • The free OregonAIR app, available for iOS and Android
  • AirNow.gov for regional air quality data

The advisory is expected to clear Friday evening as burning operations wind down for the day and overnight conditions allow smoke to disperse. No advisory is currently in place for other Oregon counties, though residents statewide may notice occasional smoke smell from isolated burn operations as land managers take advantage of favorable fall conditions.