HERMISTON — Smoke from wildfires in Western Oregon, surrounding states and Canada triggered an air quality advisory for Umatilla and Morrow counties as well as much of central Oregon, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality officials said Monday.

Harry Esteve, DEQ communications officer, said Crook, Deschutes, Douglas, Gilliam, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, eastern Lane, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Wasco and Wheeler counties are under the advisory until 5 p.m. Tuesday.

“I think the main issues for that area of the state are the fires in eastern Washington, but we are getting some smoke down from Canada and from the Oregon fires, all contributing,” he said.

Oregon Smoke Information reported six fires in Western Oregon; more than a dozen fires in Washington, including two near Kennewick; and more than a dozen fires in Idaho as of Monday morning. According to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, 1,041 fires burned in Canada, with 655 listed as out of control, 226 under control and 160 being held.

Hermiston’s air quality as of 10 a.m. Monday was 258, while Pendleton’s was 239. Both were listed as “very unhealthy,” according to the state’s Air Quality Index, which measures air-pollutant levels and provides information on potential health risks.

Esteve said the DEQ would meet Tuesday with the National Weather Service to determine whether to extend the advisory or move it to other areas. The main factor behind such decisions is wind direction, he added, because that determines where the smoke goes.

Esteve advised people in the affected areas to take precautions, especially if they have respiratory issues.

“We issue these advisories so that you can take precautions like making sure if you have respiratory conditions you try not to go outside,” he said. “And if you can, make sure you have good filters if you do go outside and it’s unhealthy. Then you want to wear an N95 mask, a well-fitting one, that sort of thing.”

According to the DEQ, smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions. Those most at risk include infants and young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant women.

The agency offers the following guidelines to follow when smoke levels are high:

• Stay inside if possible. Keep windows and doors closed. If it’s too hot, run air conditioning on recirculate or consider moving to a cooler location.

• Avoid strenuous outdoor activity.

• Use high-efficiency particulate air filters in indoor ventilation systems or portable air purifiers. Or create your own air purifying filter by following instructions.

• Be aware of smoke and avoid places with the highest levels.

• When air quality improves to moderate or healthy (yellow or green on the AQI), open windows and doors to air out homes and businesses.

• Be sure to follow breathing plans for medical conditions and keep any needed medications refilled.

According to the DEQ, cloth, dust and surgical masks don’t protect from smoke’s harmful particles. N95 or P100 respirators approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health must be properly selected (with an N, R or P alongside the numbers 95, 99 or 100) and worn. People with heart or lung conditions should consult their health care providers before wearing a respirator.

Esteve said the wildfire season normally runs through September, but the season seems to get longer each year.

“Unfortunately, they (fires) are getting more and more common,” he said. “They used to not be very common, but given drought, climate change and other conditions, we’re getting more and more days of unhealthy air during the summer in Oregon.”

He added that he didn’t know if winds and rain from Hurricane Hilary would affect the advisory for central and eastern Oregon.

“The little that I know about that is that it’s actually supposed to help clear out some of the smoke in the coast and Multnomah County, but I don’t know that for sure,” he said.

The NWS, however, has issued flood watches through Tuesday afternoon for portions of Eastern and Central Oregon, including the Grande Ronde Valley, Northern Blue Mountains, Southern Blue Mountains, Wallowa County, Baker County, Harney County, Malheur County, Oregon Lower Treasure Valley, John Day Basin and Ochoco-John Day Highlands.

“Heavy rain from the remnants of Hurricane Hilary may result in landslides in areas of steep terrain, as well as debris flows in and near burn scars from recent wildfires,” the agency stated. “Debris flows are rapidly moving, extremely destructive landslides. They can contain boulders and logs transported in a fast-moving soil and water slurry down steep hillsides and through narrow canyons. They can easily travel a mile or more. A debris flow moves faster than a person can run. People, structures, and roads located below steep slopes in canyons and near the mouths of canyons may be at serious risk.”

For the latest information, visit bit.ly/3ONiJgu. Landslide and debris information is available at bit.ly/44lFIVI.