Public health officials have issued an Air Quality Alert for Jackson County due to wildfire smoke. There are two wildfires impacting air quality in Jackson County: the Salt Creek Fire near Eagle Point and the Shelly Fire in Siskiyou County, California.
At a minimum, residents and visitors can expect to see air quality impacted by these fires for the next couple of days. Depending on weather patterns and fire activity, air quality could be impacted for a longer period of time.
Smoke levels can rise and fall depending on weather factors including wind direction and the amount of smoke produced by the wildfires. Wildfires burning in neighboring counties and states can also impact the air quality in Jackson County. Therefore, people need to be prepared to take steps to protect their health.
Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of air pollutants that are harmful to human health. Exposure to air pollutants in smoke can irritate the lungs, cause inflammation, alter immune function and increase susceptibility to respiratory infections.
Breathing in wildfire smoke can immediately affect a person's health, causing coughing, trouble breathing, wheezing, asthma attacks, stinging eyes, scratchy throat, runny nose, irritated sinuses, headaches, tiredness, chest pain and fast heartbeat.
Populations known to be vulnerable to wildfire smoke exposures include children less than 18 years old, adults 65 and older, pregnant women, people with chronic health conditions, outdoor workers and people of low socioeconomic status.
