Business Preparedness
Wildfires are getting bigger, lasting longer, and happening more often in Oregon and across the western United States. In addition to the immediate harm from the fire itself, hazardous smoke travels well beyond the fire lines, putting people and businesses at risk.
Use the Smokewise Ashland website to keep you and your business up to date on smoke
Follow these tips for preparing your business for wildfire season and plan ahead with the Smoke Preparedness Workbook:
Prepare for wildfire season:
- Include wildfire smoke events in your emergency response and business continuity plans. Find resources to create your plan.
- Review these videos and share with your employees:
- Communicate with employees about the potential effects of wildfire smoke and how your business is preparing.
- Designate essential personnel and duties.
- Plan for how to get employees to safer locations, or when to release them before situations worsen.
- Set aside adequate supplies of water, food, and personal protective equipment. Consider providing respirators, such as N-95 or N-100, for voluntary short-term use. (Provide Appendix D to 1910.134 before use.) Do not rely on paper or dust masks.
During a wildfire event:
- Monitor fire and smoke risk in your area. One resource is DEQ’s Air Quality Index.
- Relocate or reassign outdoor work activities out of the smoke zone. Employees who work outdoors, have respiratory conditions or cardiovascular disease, smoke, or are pregnant have a higher risk of health impacts.
- Cease work when air quality and/or visibility presents health and safety hazards.
Decision Making and Communications for Outdoor Performances, School Activities, Sporting Events and Recreation Organizers
Ashland offers great outdoor recreation and each year 350,000 people visit Ashland to see outdoor performances offered at several venues including the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Be prepared to make decisions that will protect the health of the people in your community when smoke from wildfires travels into our local community. If you are a community leader, an event/sports organizer, or someone who serves a sensitive population you may be asking yourself some questions when it is smoky outside: Should the recreation event or performance continue? Do I cancel my outdoor event?
Communicate with Event Participants
The health of the visitors, participants, students, and athletes is something that should be considered during wildfires season and smoky days, especially if they are part of a smoke sensitive population:
- You should use the 5-3-1 Visibility Method to make decisions and check air quality monitors.
- Follow the Guide for Public Officials during a smoke event.
- Use the Public Health Guidance for School Outdoor Activities During Wildfire Events to determine if poor air quality will cancel a show or event.
- Use local means of mass communication to let visitors, participants and local citizens know of changes in the schedule.
- Common ways for disseminating your message include: text message service, phone trees, email, website, social media and newspaper, radio and television.
- Prepare communication in advance of a wildfire.
- Have canned messages and health information available.
The material contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The information on this website is NOT intended to diagnose, treat or substitute for professional medical advice. Those with medical conditions or sensitivities to smoke should seek the advice of a licensed medical provider. If individuals need more information, they should consult a medical professional.