Smoke from wildfires burning outside Baker County continues to spread into the county, degrading air quality in many places.

On Monday morning, July 15, the biggest effects were in the southern and western parts of the county, which are closest to the two biggest blazes in the region. The Cow Valley Fire, in northern Malheur County, has burned about 130,000 acres, and the Falls Fire, in northern Harney County, has burned about 55,000 acres.

A monitor at Burnt River School in Unity reported an air quality index at 7:50 a.m. of 214. That’s in the very unhealthy category.

The Sumpter Library reported 134, and the Haines Library reported 101, both in the unhealthy for sensitive groups category.

Other stations in the county were in the moderate category, including Halfway Library (100), Baker City Library (100) and the David J. Wheeler Federal Building in Baker City (65).

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory July 15 for Baker County, along with Grant, Morrow and Umatilla counties and northern Harney and Malheur counties. The advisory likely will be in effect at least through July 17.

The air quality index categories:

• 50 or below: good

• 51 to 100: moderate

• 101-150: unhealthy for sensitive groups

• 151-200: unhealthy

• 201-300: very unhealthy

• 301 or higher: hazardous

An air quality map is available at: https://aqicn.org/map/oregon/