Multnomah County health officials have issued a temporary wood-burning ban for the second-straight day as poor air quality from wildfires and air stagnation persists.
All wood burning in fireplaces, wood stoves, pellet stoves or any outdoor wood burning devices is prohibited countywide, unless otherwise exempted, at least until noon Tuesday, Oct. 11. The county updates {obj:66422:wood-burning restrictions} by 11 a.m daily.
Officials initially issued the mandatory "red day" ban at noon Sunday, Oct. 9. They extended the restriction another 24 hours on Monday morning, Oct. 10.
Additionally, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory for Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Lane, Douglas and northern Klamath counties on Monday due to smoke from wildfires in Washington state and the Cedar Creek Fire near Oakridge.
Officials expect poor air quality to persist until at least Friday, Oct. 14.
Air quality was in the upper "moderate" range across much of Portland on Sunday, with some areas tipping into the "unhealthy for sensitive groups" range, according to the DEQ's air quality monitoring map. A D V E R T I S I N G | Continue reading below
On Monday morning, air quality sensors in Northeast Portland and downtown were in the unhealthy for sensitive groups category, and other areas of the city were in the upper moderate range.
The moderate classification advises people who are unusually sensitive to particle pollution to consider reducing outdoor activity. The unhealthy for sensitive groups classification indicates that certain people, including pregnant women, those with heart or lung disease, older adults and children, may experience health impacts and should limit heavy outdoor exertion.
Health officials are advising people to stay inside if possible, keep windows and doors closed if the temperature allows and run air conditioning units on recirculate or seek an indoor place with cooler air if it's too hot. High-efficiency particulate air filters or portable air purifiers will help improve indoor air quality.
They're also advising people to be aware of air quality levels in their area and monitor themselves for symptoms of smoke exposure, which can include scratchy throat, stinging or watery eyes, stuffy nose, sinus irritation, coughing, trouble breathing and tiredness or dizziness.
The county's wood smoke ordinance, which originally was adopted in 2018, gives county health officials the authority to temporarily prohibit wood burning — with some exceptions — in response to pollution levels.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners expanded the ordinance earlier this year, after months of work to further reduce the harmful health impacts of inhaling particulate matter in wood smoke. A D V E R T I S I N G | Continue reading below
The changes included allowing health officials to issue wood burning advisories year-round, removing an exemption for EPA-certified wood stoves and removing the term "green day," which previously applied to days when there wasn't an advisory in effect, from the county's code.
The ordinance allows people to apply for exemptions to the restrictions, including if wood is a household's sole source of heat, if a household's income is 60% or less than the Oregon median income or in the event of a power outage or service interruption that cuts off a primary source of heat. Also, the ordinance doesn't apply to wood burning for cooking.
Temporary wood burning bans issued by county health officials apply even when fire officials have not issued an outdoor wood burning ban due to wildfire risk. An outdoor wood burning ban from the Multnomah Fire Defence Board was in effect from July 25 to Oct. 1.
Prior to the expansion of the wood smoke program year-round in February, the county issued four red-day wood-burning bans since 2018. Health officials issued red-day advisories in July to reduce the impact of poor air quality created by high smog levels. They also issued several "yellow days" — a request for voluntary curtailment of wood burning — in response to wildfire smoke this summer.
To learn more about restrictions in the county's wood smoke ordinance, the health impacts of wood smoke or apply for an exemption, visit the county's website here.
To learn more about what criteria health officials use before issuing a wood burning advisory, read this story.
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