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CONTINUING COVERAGE: WILDFIRES Rogue Valley residents urged to stay indoors to avoid hazardous wildfire smoke There's only one foolproof way to avoid hazardous smoke from wildfires: Stay indoors Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 3, 2015 at 3:34 PM Updated Aug 4, 2015 at 11:20 AM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 3, 2015 at 3:34 PM Updated Aug 4, 2015 at 11:20 AM » RELATED CONTENT • Stouts fire still growing, but in a good way • SOCIAL MEDIA: Up in smoke! Photos, videos from Southern Oregon... • Share your wildfire smoke photos » Social News Smoke from wildfires burning in Douglas County and Northern California has lowered air quality to unhealthy levels in Shady Cove and Medford and has led to cancellation of several outdoor events.  Shady Cove's air quality deteriorated to "hazardous" levels Monday, according to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Medford, Grants Pass and Provolt were all listed as "unhealthy." The Medford Rogues baseball team canceled games Saturday and Sunday, though officials said they would wait until Tuesday to make a decision on whether that day's game will be nixed. Medford Parks & Recreation Department also canceled today's Park & Play event because of smoke. Local health officials are encouraging people to limit their time outside to reduce their exposure.  "If at all possible, stay indoors," said Jackson Baures, Jackson County Health and Human Services public health division manager. The smoke has prompted some people to seek treatment, at least at Providence Medford Medical Center.  "We can say for sure that we have received an increase in calls and visits to our primary care (sites)," said Providence spokeswoman Hillary Brown. Rogue Community Health centers in Prospect, White City and Butte Falls and Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford have not yet seen a significant jump, officials said. Tiny particles  The hazard from wildfire smoke comes from breathing very small particulate matter, known as PM 2.5 because each particle is two-and-a-half microns in diameter or smaller. By comparison, a strand of hair is 70 microns, and a grain of fine sand is about 90 microns. There are more than 25,000 microns in an inch.  These tiny particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause a range of detrimental health effects, from asthma all the way to cancer. "We used to just be concerned about PM 10, but once we realized there are actually more issues with smaller particulate matter, that’s when we started regulating PM 2.5, and that’s also in wildfire smoke,” said Meghan Fagundes, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality natural resource specialist. The particle's chemical makeup is not the problem, Fagundes said. Its size makes it dangerous because of how deep it can burrow into places it shouldn't. “It’s one of the smallest particulate matters, so it gets deep into your lungs," Fagundes said. "We're really just concerned about the size." Specialized N95 masks — so named because they can filter out about 95 percent of the particles if worn properly — are one protective option, though county health officials caution the masks can offer a false sense of security. "We're not recommending that people go out and buy masks unless it's necessary for them to be outdoors," Baures said. "It's very important to curtail your outdoor activity. Don't use your mask as a replacement for being indoors."  People may not wear the masks properly or they may not fit well, Baures said. N95 masks are frequently used in the workplace, where specialists are on hand to test the masks and make sure they fit correctly. "There's really a formal process for getting a fit test from an occupational health standpoint," Baures said. "(Residents) don't have a way to ensure a proper fit, which is one of our concerns." In addition, the masks make it more difficult to breathe and can exacerbate chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Other tips Health officials recommended paying attention to local air-quality reports and public health bulletins. Oregon DEQ updates an air-quality index online hourly. A quick visual check can provide a basic sense of current air quality.  "Generally, if you can see up to 15 miles, the air quality is probably good," a Jackson County news release said. "If you can see less than one mile, the air quality is very unhealthy and everyone should avoid outdoor activities."  While indoors, keep windows and doors closed. Those with air conditioning should keep the fresh air intake valve closed and cycle the air instead. Any activities that increase indoor pollution, such as vacuuming or burning candles, should be avoided.  Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 3, 2015 at 3:34 PM Updated Aug 4, 2015 at 11:20 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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