Resources available for Baker County residents affected by Durkee Fire and smoky air
By Joe Hathaway on Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
BAKER COUNTY – Residents of Baker County grappling with the Durkee Fire and unhealthy air quality now have access to various resources aimed at providing relief and support. Local authorities and organizations have coordinated efforts to offer clean air spaces, air purifiers, N95 masks, and other essential services.
Evacuation Shelters:
- American Red Cross: Contact 541-523-2231 for information on available shelters.
- Livestock Evacuation: The Baker County Fairgrounds at 2600 East Street, Baker City, is open for livestock. Contact Angela Robb at 541-519-2202 for details.
Additional livestock evacuation sites include:
- Haines Stampede Rodeo and Association (US 30 Haines)
- Contacts:
- Lexi Shaw: 541-571-7653
- Eric Swanlund: 541-403-2443
- Kristi Bain: 541-519-4522
- Kenny Bain: 541-519-4825
- Colby Thompson: 541-910-0006
- Contacts:
Cooling and Clean Air Centers:
- Baker County Public Library: 2400 Resort Street, Baker City. Open until 7 p.m.
- Community Connections: 2810 Cedar Street, Baker City. Open until 4 p.m.
- Halfway Library: 260 Gover Lane, Halfway. Extended hours during the wildfire period.
- Richland Library: 42008 Moody Rd, Richland. Extended hours during heatwaves and wildfires.
- Sumpter Library: 245 S Mill St, Sumpter. Call ahead for availability.
- Haines Library: 818 Cole St, Haines. Extended hours during the emergency.
Mental Health Support:
- Agristress Helpline: 833-897-2474 (available 24/7)
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 988 (available 24/7)
Air Purifiers and N95 Masks:
- Residents can create air purifiers using a box fan (made in 2012 or newer) and a 20” x 20” MERV13 furnace filter, attaching the filter to the fan with duct tape.
- Limited supplies of N95 masks are available at the Baker County Health Department, located at 2200 4th Street, Baker City. Contact them at 541-523-8211.
The Baker County Health Department says its committed to supporting the community: “Our staff are working diligently to provide more resources for our community—clean air spaces, air purifiers, N95 masks,” said Meghan Chanchey, Administrator/Director of the Health Department. “We will continue to update the community as Emergency Management and the Baker County Sheriff’s Office share information with us on our Facebook page.”
For the latest updates on evacuations, visit the Baker County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Current air quality information is available at oregonsmoke.org.
