Residents can expect smoky skies and low air quality all week across northeast Oregon as wildfires continue to rage in the Pacific Northwest.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality alert until noon Friday for Umatilla and Morrow counties as well as Union, Wallowa, Gilliam, Wheeler, Grant, Sherman, Wasco, Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties.

Fine particles in smoke can cause burning eyes, runny nose and aggravate other serious health problems, such as chronic heart and lung disease. Smoke can also limit visibility. People should limit outdoor activity while the alert is in effect, especially children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems.

The air quality in Eastern Oregon is still rated “very unhealthy,” as smoke from fires across the region permeates the area. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality said that people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid physical activity outside, and all others should avoid unnecessary exposure to the air.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has issued an air quality alert until noon Friday for Umatilla, Morrow, Union, Wallowa, Gilliam, Wheeler, Grant, Sherman, Wasco, Crook, Deschutes and Jefferson counties.

Peter Brewer, who coordinates wildfire smoke responses for DEQ, said Umatilla County has been getting smoke from fires in Idaho and Montana, and last week from central Oregon, but this week’s spike was likely tied to the Eagle Creek fire in the Columbia Gorge.

“You’re kind of getting hit from all around,” he said.

He said that many of the websites featuring air quality and weather information have been crashing from the higher-than-usual traffic, but one useful resource is oregonsmoke.blogspot.com, which combines information on smoke in Oregon from many government sources.

The Umatilla County Health Department advised residents to limit outdoor exercise and stay inside in well-ventilated areas if possible.

Smoky skies throughout the area have caused local schools to shift some of their outdoor activities indoors Tuesday, in an effort to limit students’ exposure to the poor air quality.

Stanfield and Umatilla schools did not go outside for recess.

“We moved all recesses indoors first thing this morning and kept a watch on the rating. We’ve now canceled our soccer games for today and have moved all sports practices indoors,” said Umatilla Superintendent Heidi Sipe said Tuesday.

Hermiston School District officials monitored air quality conditions throughout the day, and decided Tuesday morning to move recess indoors. Some sporting events were canceled, including boys and girls soccer games in Hillsboro. All outdoor practices were also moved indoors or canceled, and district officials said they would continue monitoring the smoke and make adjustments as necessary.

Interstate 84 through the Columbia Gorge was also closed Tuesday due to the Eagle Creek Fire burning in the gorge and threatening the historic Multnomah Falls Lodge

Echo School Superintendent Raymon Smith said Tuesday afternoon that he was studying the OSAA requirements for when practice should be canceled.

“According to OSAA regulations, we’re OK to have limited activity outside,” he said. “So for football practice, we will do limited, if any, outdoor activity. And then we’ll move inside.”

Smith said other sports practices were already scheduled to be inside. He said during the day, P.E. and recess activities were moved inside.

“We started the morning at 79, which is moderate, and by mid-morning, it was at extreme,” he said.

More information about air quality can be found at www.deq.state.or.us.