LA GRANDE — Nick Vora, Union County’s emergency manager, knows that every fire season is different: This year, for example, the season roared into high gear much earlier than expected.

But every wildfire season produces smoke — and even though Union County doesn’t yet have the huge blazes that are burning in nearby counties, a lot of smoke is flowing into the Grande Ronde Valley.

Camden Plunkett of the National Weather Service in Pendleton said Wednesday, July 24 the main cause of smoke in Union County’s air is due to the Lone Rock Fire that’s been burning southeast of Condon since July 13 as well as smoke from the Telephone Fire, near the Falls Fire in the John Day Basin area.

Weather patterns have also contributed to the smoke, Plunkett said. Lightning starts on July 17-18 created additional smoke and haze, escalating wildfires burning west of La Grande in the southern Blue Mountains.

Plunkett said the Durkee Fire burning near Baker City — now the state’s largest blaze — is not contributing to the smoke that is blanketing La Grande.

But regardless of where the smoke comes from, smoke from wildfires is known to have adverse health effects.

The Grande Ronde Valley is under an air quality alert issued by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. In the statement released on July 24, the department reminds the public that smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs while worsening some medical conditions.

Those most at risk include young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people. People are advised to stay indoors and avoid strenuous outdoor activities.

Vora also echoed advice on ways people could cope with the low air quality.

“When air quality is very low, we recommend that people stay indoors and limit exertion to the extent possible,” he said.

For sensitive groups, Vora suggested speaking with a physician for tailored guidance on how to minimize these impacts.

Vora said La Grande’s Center for Human Development can help connect residents to providers of equipment such as air purifiers, but supplies may be limited. The Oregon Department of Human Services, in cooperation with local agencies, may also be able to assist people in locating resources, he said.

Plunkett, at the National Weather Service, said the hazy and smoky conditions in the county are likely to linger.

“The pattern is certainly conducive to winds pushing smoke over the La Grande area, at least for the next week, so into the weekend,” he said.

Plunkett said thunderstorms and lightning forecasted for Wednesday afternoon and evening may lead to new wildfire starts — and are part of the reason why Union County remains under a red flag fire warning that’s in effect until 11 p.m. Wednesday. Plunkett said it was likely the red flag warning would be extended. Forecasters issue a red flag warning when they expect conditions that could fuel extreme fire behavior.

Forecasters say that Wednesday’s storms could produce cloud-to-ground lightning in addition to small hail up to an inch in diameter, with winds possibly reaching 40 to 60 mph.

Vora said the rash of wildfires in the West has created national shortages of firefighting resources, and those shortages are hobbling local firefighting efforts. That’s part of the reason why Vora urged people to be aware of what’s happening with wildfires across the state, many of which have prompted evacuation orders and warnings.

“It would be very prudent for people to be prepared to evacuate even when there isn’t a fire because sometimes when a fire starts, it happens very quickly, and the notice that people have to evacuate may be very short,” Vora said.

In the meantime, local officials have issued orders intended to prevent fires in Union County. A countywide burning ban was issued by county commissioners and the La Grande Fire Department has banned all outdoor fires.

• Center for Human Development, 541-962-8800, https://www.chdinc.org/
• Oregon Department for Human Services, 541-963-4113 https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/pages/office-finder.aspx?city=La+Grande&officeid=166
• Oregon Health Authority