Eugene or LA? 'The air quality changed overnight'
EUGENE, Ore. - Almost anywhere you looked Monday, you could see it.
"I mean usually in Eugene, it's just so clear and beautiful," said Molly Phenix. "I've never seen it like this."
And you could smell it.
"I was staying at the Hilton and when we went into the parking garage, you could smell the smoke," said Anne Dupont.
Eugene looked more like a smoggy LA day, thanks to the Pole Creek fire burning near Sisters, which by Monday afternoon was only 10 percent contained.
"The air quality changed overnight. We had the winds shift and they're coming from the east," said Lane Regional Air Protection Agency's Sally Markos.
By noon Monday, the air quality jumped from moderate to unhealthy in the Eugene/Springfield area.
"And that's a concern for people that have any type of health problems for example asthma or respiratory issues," said Markos. "The smoke combined with the heat just makes things more miserable."
Even landmarks like the Coburg Hills and Spencer Butte were barely visible most of the day.
But Markos said the smoke is nothing compared to what the city of Sisters is dealing with.
"They're in the hazardous range," she said. "Even the most healthy people are going to feel the effects of the smoke. It would be basically like being in the fire, I mean the smoke levels are that high."
And she also warned people about heading east.
"I certainly wouldn't recommend anyone go east," Markos said. "Don't go up the Mckenzie and don't do any rafting or hiking up in the mountains there."
The good news: the National Weather Service is forecasting winds out of the southwest Tuesday with more of an onshore flow. That means a lot of the smoke in the valley will be headed east.
Oxbow fire?.. I can remember when the field burning was so bad you couldn't see down the street to the end of the block. This is nothing compared to then
@Whitehawk Are you referring to the time you could see the field burning smoke hanging INSIDE Valley River Center?
Oh, yeah, GREAT news! So the smoke will blow on someone else. Good news would be if the fire was 80%+ contained, or if  heavy rain with no thunder and lightening was expected, or if the residents of Sisters and outlying areas were safe from losing their homes to the fire. Any of THOSE would be GOOD NEWS. A bit selfish to wish this smoke on others, donât you think?
Apparently Molly Phenix has not been in Eugene long enough to recall the Oxbow Fire. The people complaining about this smoke obviously did not see the Oxbow Fire smoke which last for more than  a couple of weeks. Well get ready for more of this, because with the current environmental restrictions on logging, the forests are time bombs waiting to explode. A lot more likely than a major earthquake.
 @souptonuts. The log trucks have been rolling for the last couple of years.  One can not fire proof all forest land.  I  am pro logging but do not wish to see government land turned into private land management style. If banks would start loaning money again fed land would start to be logged a bit more.  Right know most wood is going to Asia. What folks miss is the fact unless grossly mismanaged, we will not run out of timber in the USA.
@drinkmorewater I agree their has to be reasonable management of the forests, and I personally don't like clear cutting. The Ochoco Forest is managed without clear cutting and is a beautiful forest. Folks need to get back to moderation and quit this excessive everything lifestyle. We need jobs, and these forests could be cleaned up, beautiful and productive all at the same time, but as long as there are constantly opposing agendas, this will never happen.
 @souptonuts  @drinkmorewater to true the all or nothing lifestyle is no way to live
@souptonuts  She (and they) may not even have been born in 1966.....Â