Wildfire smoke is no longer a rare emergency, it’s a predictable, climate-driven public health threat. In this episode, Gabriella Goldfarb, Environmental Public Health Section Manager, for the Oregon Health Authority, Public Health Division tells us why health agencies must begin outreach and coordination long before wildfire season starts. Goldfarb walks through Oregon’s collaborative wildfire smoke response protocol, explaining how state, federal, tribal, and local partners translate complex data into timely public health advisories. The conversation explores the growing health risks of repeated smoke exposure, the added challenges of prescribed fires, and how transparent, empathetic communication builds trust. Listeners also learn how Oregon is investing in long-term resilience—through preparedness calls, harm reduction strategies like air filtration support, and broader climate adaptation efforts—to protect communities as smoke, heat, and other climate hazards accelerate.
Communicating the Health Risks of Wildland Fire Smoke | ASTHO
1
00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,000
This is Public Health Review
Morning Edition for Wednesday,
2
00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:06,280
February 4th, 2026.
I'm John Sheehan for the
3
00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,000
Association of State and
Territorial Health Officials.
4
00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,400
Today preparing for wildfires, A
predictable climate driven
5
00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,800
public health threat.
Our guest is Gabriella Goldfarb,
6
00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,680
environmental public health
section manager for the Oregon
7
00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:21,520
Health Authority Public Health
Division.
8
00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,960
She'll walk us through Oregon's
collaborative wildfire smoke
9
00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,760
response protocol and explain
how state, federal, tribal and
10
00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:33,120
local partners translate complex
data into timely public health
11
00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,840
advisories.
She began by explaining why
12
00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:39,360
health agencies have to begin
outreach and coordination long
13
00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:44,800
before wild season starts.
So we unfortunately have a lot
14
00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:50,920
of practice having to respond
and and to increasing wildfire
15
00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:56,680
and wildfire smoke impacts in
our state in the past decades.
16
00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:00,640
That's being driven by climate
change just as the predictions
17
00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:04,200
were made.
The reality is, is meeting them.
18
00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:08,360
And so we built over time a
system.
19
00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:12,520
We have an Oregon wildfire
response protocol for severe
20
00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:16,920
smoke episodes that started out
as more informal collaborations
21
00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,240
because it really takes a big
team to to pull together all the
22
00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:24,520
information to forecast what
smoke is coming, what direction
23
00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,160
is it going, how severe is it
going to be.
24
00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:31,280
And so we found that
establishing the relationships
25
00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:37,440
and roles and documenting those.
And then every year we have kick
26
00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,880
off calls in advance of wildfire
season and then post wildfire
27
00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:43,640
season calls among all the
folks.
28
00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:49,400
And so we are talking about the
meteorologists and the from our
29
00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:53,520
Department of Forestry and our
National Weather Service and our
30
00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,160
Forest Service air resource
specialist and our Department of
31
00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:00,200
Environment Equality who we Co
chair this group.
32
00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:05,000
And we bring the health risk
information, we bring monitoring
33
00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,760
that we're doing of people
walking to emergency departments
34
00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,320
and we translate that
information for our local public
35
00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:15,280
health partners at county level
and, and tribes as well.
36
00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:20,320
And we found that, you know, I
think as in all human endeavors,
37
00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:24,920
it's relationships that matter.
So making those connections
38
00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:28,240
ahead of time and, and that's,
you know, also basic right to
39
00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,720
our, our preparedness and
emergency response colleagues.
40
00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:36,280
That's what that's all about.
And, and you know, in Oregon, we
41
00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:41,520
and our agency is interestingly,
you know, one of the agencies
42
00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,560
that uses the incident command
system along with the Department
43
00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,600
of Forestry, for example, and
our state fire Marshall.
44
00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,880
And it's that's we use these
kinds of structures and
45
00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,960
practices to build those
relationships ahead of time,
46
00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,920
figure out who the right people
are and have information at the
47
00:02:58,920 --> 00:03:01,800
ready.
Like, you know, we know year
48
00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,200
after year the important things
to communicate and the languages
49
00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:10,280
we need to communicate in to
reach the populations that are
50
00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:14,920
most at risk.
And when when you're sort of
51
00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:22,000
creating these these guidelines
and sort of protocols, there's a
52
00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:27,640
lot of communication going
between in state officials and
53
00:03:27,640 --> 00:03:30,880
national officials.
How do you how do you sort of
54
00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:35,480
take that national guidance and
fit it into Oregon's specific
55
00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,560
circumstances given, you know, a
diverse set of communities?
56
00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:45,200
Yeah, we really rely on the
Oregon.
57
00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:50,720
We are mighty but small, and so
we really need to rely on
58
00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:58,120
national expertise for us from
the CDCEPA, within CDC, from the
59
00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,960
Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry to make sure
60
00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:05,480
that our guidance is based on
science.
61
00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:10,160
So when we're seeing smoke
levels, we are looking at EP as
62
00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:13,480
integrated science assessment
for a particulate matter, for
63
00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,760
example.
And as we are learning more and
64
00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,240
more about what's in smoke
besides particulates, we have a
65
00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,960
lot of questions from the public
about the toxicity of smoke.
66
00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,800
When those used to be just once
in a while events, it was one
67
00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,120
thing.
But now there are real questions
68
00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:34,560
about communities that are hit
by smoke year after year after
69
00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:36,880
year for many months.
You know, what else is in the
70
00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:38,800
smoke and what are the health
impacts?
71
00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:44,880
And so we need partnerships with
our federal partners and other
72
00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,720
state partners to bring the best
science to bear and giving
73
00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,280
advice to community.
And can you talk us through the
74
00:04:52,280 --> 00:04:56,600
process of, you know, when
you're sort of in the midst of
75
00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,040
it and you're gathering this
data and you're getting
76
00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,480
information on where the fires
are, what could be, what could
77
00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,880
be in them?
How does that translate into a
78
00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:11,000
public health alert or into a,
you know, a recommendation for,
79
00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,720
hey, you know, this community,
you've got to go do this?
80
00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:19,000
Yeah.
In our state, the issuer of an
81
00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,880
air quality advisory is our
Department of Environmental
82
00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,720
Quality.
But again, that decision, their
83
00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,640
decision is really made in
partnership with all those
84
00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:35,640
parties I talked about earlier.
And in fact the you know, Oregon
85
00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:37,880
Health Authority and and
Department of Environmental
86
00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:41,800
Quality Co chair the are the
conveners of the group and those
87
00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:45,800
happen as needed the night
before or a day before.
88
00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:50,840
People know which way the are
are getting updates on on fire
89
00:05:50,840 --> 00:05:54,640
activity and determine we need
to have a smoke call and it'll
90
00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,400
be first thing in the morning.
And we hear from all the
91
00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,960
different geographic regions
across the state, including our
92
00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:03,520
federal partners who are divided
up.
93
00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:07,920
We may hear from the Northern
California, Southern Oregon
94
00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:12,320
Forest Service, air resource
advisor, for example, the
95
00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,400
National Weather Service based
out of Boise, whoever's closest
96
00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,880
to the fire.
And everybody reports out on
97
00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,520
what they know.
And then there's a discussion
98
00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,360
about what it, what sounds,
Yeah, what sounds reasonable,
99
00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:27,440
How long, what should the
geographic extent be?
100
00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:29,960
How long should it last?
When shall we check in again
101
00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,160
about extending it or lifting
it?
102
00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:36,080
And so it's a very collaborative
process, but very nimble.
103
00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:41,000
Again, during wildfire season,
we are all monitoring our emails
104
00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:45,560
and you know, a few hours notice
are convening to to come
105
00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:49,600
together and bring our best
thoughts together and answer
106
00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,560
your questions.
And here in, you know, in those
107
00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,160
calls, we also have our local
public health council, public
108
00:06:56,160 --> 00:07:00,960
health and tribal health folks
and they're giving us very
109
00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,520
localized input on what they're
seeing.
110
00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:07,280
So it's it's putting that all
together and everybody's a
111
00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:08,840
really trusted voice at that
point.
112
00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:14,520
Yeah, and as you're describing,
it's such AI mean collaborations
113
00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,440
feels like too small a word.
There are so many parties
114
00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,480
involved, state, national,
tribal.
115
00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,680
How does that come together in
practice and how do you how do
116
00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:27,480
you sort of like strengthen
those connections ahead of time?
117
00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:29,120
How do you like lay the
groundwork because it's so
118
00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:30,840
complicated?
Yeah.
119
00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,680
So again, it's a lot of
communication.
120
00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,760
As I mentioned, we have
specifically for the team that
121
00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:41,720
participates in this protocol
implementation, we have pre and
122
00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,760
post wildfire season.
But Oregon Health Authority, we
123
00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:50,840
specifically with the focus on
public health convene a summer
124
00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:57,320
hazards call that is really come
one come all to listen to
125
00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:00,880
subject matter experts, get your
questions answered and that and
126
00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:02,720
yeah, that can be wildfire
smoke.
127
00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,400
More and more we are looking at
increasing the pace and scale
128
00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,760
prescribed fire in the state to
try to reduce the risk of
129
00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:12,000
massive conflagrations over
time.
130
00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:16,240
And that means more smoke in
community more of the year.
131
00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:18,600
But it's smoke that people can
prepare for.
132
00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:24,560
And so, you know, these are the
our summer hazards extend to
133
00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:28,800
other things, harmful algae
blooms, extreme heat, of course,
134
00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:32,480
which is, you know, a huge issue
and growing issue.
135
00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:37,440
And then not only heat separate
from smoke, but heat and smoke
136
00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:40,200
at the same time.
We are really focusing a lot on
137
00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:45,200
that as looking at the health
impacts around that combination.
138
00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:51,200
So we are, you know, here as a
resource for our local partners
139
00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,120
when they're trying to
communicate locally and we're
140
00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:59,160
providing empathetic messaging
that's science based and we
141
00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:01,360
follow.
You know, the mantra for us is
142
00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:03,760
here's what we know, here's what
we don't know, here's what we're
143
00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,800
doing about it.
We applied that, you know,
144
00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,040
across the board in
environmental public health, but
145
00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:13,040
you know, certainly in this
context and that is good
146
00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:14,720
guidance.
When you tell people what you
147
00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,640
don't know, they tend to trust
what more what you say you do
148
00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:21,240
know.
And in the case of prescribed
149
00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:25,080
fires, I imagine that's adding a
layer of complexity because
150
00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,560
you've got a practice that's
completely it's, you know, it's
151
00:09:28,560 --> 00:09:32,080
designed to prevent future
wildfires.
152
00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:36,880
At the same time, you're sort of
adding environmental hazards and
153
00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,400
you know no one wants that, but
also no one wants them to be
154
00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:41,920
uncontrolled.
You know, you're sort of adding
155
00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:46,040
a level of danger to to a safe
practice.
156
00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:53,440
Yeah, it, it is, You know, in
terms of there has been a lot of
157
00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:58,600
conservatism and a lot of
concerns to make sure as much as
158
00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:02,400
possible that when this
prescribed burn burns happen.
159
00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,000
And this is our view, the
responsibility of our of our
160
00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:09,320
natural resource agency land
manager partners, but that they
161
00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:14,800
the risk of it going astray is,
is minimized.
162
00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,960
It's really about the smoke
impacts that we're putting in.
163
00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,440
And it was a hard, you know, it
was a decision that Oregon
164
00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,840
Health Authority as an agency,
you know, smoke is smoke.
165
00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,320
It's bad for health.
There's no good smoke.
166
00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:33,960
But looking at the science, it's
been shown that doing treating
167
00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:38,720
forests, restoring forest health
and restoring the natural cycles
168
00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:44,360
of fire in our forests over time
will mean that we don't have
169
00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:48,640
massive wildfire that blankets
huge parts of the state or even
170
00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:52,440
in 2020, the entire state is
blanketed with hazardous levels
171
00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:54,280
of smoke.
And that was really eye opening
172
00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,880
for a lot of people.
We are experiential learners.
173
00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,000
And that that we had a nine
month period.
174
00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:05,680
We had, you know, massive fires
that destroyed 4000 homes.
175
00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:12,160
The next most damaging fire in
2015 destroyed 50 homes like we
176
00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,840
it was it was really a a huge
impact.
177
00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:18,640
And again, parts of the state
that don't regular and rarely or
178
00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:22,040
never experienced smoke
experience such extreme smoke.
179
00:11:22,560 --> 00:11:27,920
It was falled a few months later
by a severe ice storm and then a
180
00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:34,240
few months later in June of 2021
by our heat Dome that killed,
181
00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:36,800
you know, well over 100 people
in the state.
182
00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:43,800
And those events really brought
to everybody's consciousness the
183
00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:48,400
realities of what climate change
strip and hazards are, are
184
00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:51,160
posing in terms of a risk to
health.
185
00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:58,160
So with all that, we still need
to work with community to make
186
00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:02,600
sure that we're doing everything
we can to protect them with
187
00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:06,040
communication above all, so
people can take steps to protect
188
00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:11,080
themselves before the prescribed
fire and also during the
189
00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,320
prescribed fire so they know
what's going on.
190
00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,800
And for some populations and to
the extent we have resources,
191
00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:21,320
direct interventions like
providing air filtration devices
192
00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:26,320
to adult foster homes, for
example, or to our Medicaid
193
00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,600
population.
So those are all things that we
194
00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:33,600
can do ahead of prescribed fire
that also help with wildfire,
195
00:12:33,680 --> 00:12:37,520
frankly, smoke resilience.
We have a Healthy Homes grant
196
00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:42,800
program that the legislature
directed us to stand up.
197
00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:46,280
And the big focus of that is
weatherization and heat pump
198
00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:50,280
installation to help get people
HVAC system that protect them
199
00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:52,640
from heat and smoke, for
example.
200
00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:57,440
So we're working on a lot of
broad fronts to try to protect
201
00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:02,840
people from these risks.
Yeah, as unfortunately these
202
00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:07,280
these kinds of climate related
environmental hazards sort of
203
00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:09,960
keep accelerating.
Right.
204
00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:14,520
Yeah, we're saying it in other
contexts.
205
00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:20,920
We believe likely that harmful
algae blooms are expanding in in
206
00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,000
their freak increasing in their
frequency.
207
00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:27,520
For example, as another one, I I
would say at the top of our list
208
00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,920
are smoke and heat.
Those are the ones that are the
209
00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:35,320
things that we are most
supporting, you know, through
210
00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,560
investments in public health
modernization, we are resourcing
211
00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,280
local county public health and
tribes and community based
212
00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:48,440
organizations to develop,
identify populations at risk
213
00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,960
from these climate threats,
develop plans, strategies,
214
00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:54,720
partnerships to address those
risks.
215
00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,560
It's hard for them to keep going
with those investments and
216
00:13:59,560 --> 00:14:04,400
actions at the same time that
other basic core public health
217
00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:10,880
infrastructure is feeling a lot
of pressure and losses.
218
00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:15,800
But but we continue to to
provide that support, provide
219
00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:19,880
Technical Support and set those
expectations that as much as
220
00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:23,760
possible, we need to try to
continue to build the resilience
221
00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:28,600
of communities to these threats.
Gabriella Goldfarb is
222
00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,200
environmental public health
section manager for the Oregon
223
00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:33,120
Health Authority public Health
Division.
224
00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,440
This has been Public Health
Review MORNING Edition.
225
00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,240
I'm John Sheehan for the
Association of State and
226
00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:40,560
Territorial Health Officials.
00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,000
This is Public Health Review
Morning Edition for Wednesday,
2
00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:06,280
February 4th, 2026.
I'm John Sheehan for the
3
00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,000
Association of State and
Territorial Health Officials.
4
00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,400
Today preparing for wildfires, A
predictable climate driven
5
00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:16,800
public health threat.
Our guest is Gabriella Goldfarb,
6
00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,680
environmental public health
section manager for the Oregon
7
00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:21,520
Health Authority Public Health
Division.
8
00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:24,960
She'll walk us through Oregon's
collaborative wildfire smoke
9
00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,760
response protocol and explain
how state, federal, tribal and
10
00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:33,120
local partners translate complex
data into timely public health
11
00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,840
advisories.
She began by explaining why
12
00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:39,360
health agencies have to begin
outreach and coordination long
13
00:00:39,360 --> 00:00:44,800
before wild season starts.
So we unfortunately have a lot
14
00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:50,920
of practice having to respond
and and to increasing wildfire
15
00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:56,680
and wildfire smoke impacts in
our state in the past decades.
16
00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:00,640
That's being driven by climate
change just as the predictions
17
00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:04,200
were made.
The reality is, is meeting them.
18
00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:08,360
And so we built over time a
system.
19
00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:12,520
We have an Oregon wildfire
response protocol for severe
20
00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:16,920
smoke episodes that started out
as more informal collaborations
21
00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:20,240
because it really takes a big
team to to pull together all the
22
00:01:20,240 --> 00:01:24,520
information to forecast what
smoke is coming, what direction
23
00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,160
is it going, how severe is it
going to be.
24
00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:31,280
And so we found that
establishing the relationships
25
00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:37,440
and roles and documenting those.
And then every year we have kick
26
00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,880
off calls in advance of wildfire
season and then post wildfire
27
00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:43,640
season calls among all the
folks.
28
00:01:43,640 --> 00:01:49,400
And so we are talking about the
meteorologists and the from our
29
00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:53,520
Department of Forestry and our
National Weather Service and our
30
00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,160
Forest Service air resource
specialist and our Department of
31
00:01:57,160 --> 00:02:00,200
Environment Equality who we Co
chair this group.
32
00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:05,000
And we bring the health risk
information, we bring monitoring
33
00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:07,760
that we're doing of people
walking to emergency departments
34
00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,320
and we translate that
information for our local public
35
00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:15,280
health partners at county level
and, and tribes as well.
36
00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:20,320
And we found that, you know, I
think as in all human endeavors,
37
00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:24,920
it's relationships that matter.
So making those connections
38
00:02:24,920 --> 00:02:28,240
ahead of time and, and that's,
you know, also basic right to
39
00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:31,720
our, our preparedness and
emergency response colleagues.
40
00:02:32,600 --> 00:02:36,280
That's what that's all about.
And, and you know, in Oregon, we
41
00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:41,520
and our agency is interestingly,
you know, one of the agencies
42
00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:44,560
that uses the incident command
system along with the Department
43
00:02:44,560 --> 00:02:47,600
of Forestry, for example, and
our state fire Marshall.
44
00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:51,880
And it's that's we use these
kinds of structures and
45
00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:54,960
practices to build those
relationships ahead of time,
46
00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:58,920
figure out who the right people
are and have information at the
47
00:02:58,920 --> 00:03:01,800
ready.
Like, you know, we know year
48
00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,200
after year the important things
to communicate and the languages
49
00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:10,280
we need to communicate in to
reach the populations that are
50
00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:14,920
most at risk.
And when when you're sort of
51
00:03:14,920 --> 00:03:22,000
creating these these guidelines
and sort of protocols, there's a
52
00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:27,640
lot of communication going
between in state officials and
53
00:03:27,640 --> 00:03:30,880
national officials.
How do you how do you sort of
54
00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:35,480
take that national guidance and
fit it into Oregon's specific
55
00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,560
circumstances given, you know, a
diverse set of communities?
56
00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:45,200
Yeah, we really rely on the
Oregon.
57
00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:50,720
We are mighty but small, and so
we really need to rely on
58
00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:58,120
national expertise for us from
the CDCEPA, within CDC, from the
59
00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:01,960
Agency for Toxic Substances and
Disease Registry to make sure
60
00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:05,480
that our guidance is based on
science.
61
00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:10,160
So when we're seeing smoke
levels, we are looking at EP as
62
00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:13,480
integrated science assessment
for a particulate matter, for
63
00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:16,760
example.
And as we are learning more and
64
00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,240
more about what's in smoke
besides particulates, we have a
65
00:04:20,240 --> 00:04:22,960
lot of questions from the public
about the toxicity of smoke.
66
00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:27,800
When those used to be just once
in a while events, it was one
67
00:04:27,800 --> 00:04:30,120
thing.
But now there are real questions
68
00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:34,560
about communities that are hit
by smoke year after year after
69
00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:36,880
year for many months.
You know, what else is in the
70
00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:38,800
smoke and what are the health
impacts?
71
00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:44,880
And so we need partnerships with
our federal partners and other
72
00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:48,720
state partners to bring the best
science to bear and giving
73
00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:52,280
advice to community.
And can you talk us through the
74
00:04:52,280 --> 00:04:56,600
process of, you know, when
you're sort of in the midst of
75
00:04:56,600 --> 00:04:59,040
it and you're gathering this
data and you're getting
76
00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:02,480
information on where the fires
are, what could be, what could
77
00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,880
be in them?
How does that translate into a
78
00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:11,000
public health alert or into a,
you know, a recommendation for,
79
00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:13,720
hey, you know, this community,
you've got to go do this?
80
00:05:15,040 --> 00:05:19,000
Yeah.
In our state, the issuer of an
81
00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:21,880
air quality advisory is our
Department of Environmental
82
00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,720
Quality.
But again, that decision, their
83
00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,640
decision is really made in
partnership with all those
84
00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:35,640
parties I talked about earlier.
And in fact the you know, Oregon
85
00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:37,880
Health Authority and and
Department of Environmental
86
00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:41,800
Quality Co chair the are the
conveners of the group and those
87
00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:45,800
happen as needed the night
before or a day before.
88
00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:50,840
People know which way the are
are getting updates on on fire
89
00:05:50,840 --> 00:05:54,640
activity and determine we need
to have a smoke call and it'll
90
00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,400
be first thing in the morning.
And we hear from all the
91
00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,960
different geographic regions
across the state, including our
92
00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:03,520
federal partners who are divided
up.
93
00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:07,920
We may hear from the Northern
California, Southern Oregon
94
00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:12,320
Forest Service, air resource
advisor, for example, the
95
00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,400
National Weather Service based
out of Boise, whoever's closest
96
00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,880
to the fire.
And everybody reports out on
97
00:06:18,880 --> 00:06:21,520
what they know.
And then there's a discussion
98
00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,360
about what it, what sounds,
Yeah, what sounds reasonable,
99
00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:27,440
How long, what should the
geographic extent be?
100
00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:29,960
How long should it last?
When shall we check in again
101
00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,160
about extending it or lifting
it?
102
00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:36,080
And so it's a very collaborative
process, but very nimble.
103
00:06:36,560 --> 00:06:41,000
Again, during wildfire season,
we are all monitoring our emails
104
00:06:41,000 --> 00:06:45,560
and you know, a few hours notice
are convening to to come
105
00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:49,600
together and bring our best
thoughts together and answer
106
00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,560
your questions.
And here in, you know, in those
107
00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,160
calls, we also have our local
public health council, public
108
00:06:56,160 --> 00:07:00,960
health and tribal health folks
and they're giving us very
109
00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,520
localized input on what they're
seeing.
110
00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:07,280
So it's it's putting that all
together and everybody's a
111
00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:08,840
really trusted voice at that
point.
112
00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:14,520
Yeah, and as you're describing,
it's such AI mean collaborations
113
00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,440
feels like too small a word.
There are so many parties
114
00:07:17,440 --> 00:07:19,480
involved, state, national,
tribal.
115
00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,680
How does that come together in
practice and how do you how do
116
00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:27,480
you sort of like strengthen
those connections ahead of time?
117
00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:29,120
How do you like lay the
groundwork because it's so
118
00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:30,840
complicated?
Yeah.
119
00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:33,680
So again, it's a lot of
communication.
120
00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,760
As I mentioned, we have
specifically for the team that
121
00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:41,720
participates in this protocol
implementation, we have pre and
122
00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:45,760
post wildfire season.
But Oregon Health Authority, we
123
00:07:46,000 --> 00:07:50,840
specifically with the focus on
public health convene a summer
124
00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:57,320
hazards call that is really come
one come all to listen to
125
00:07:57,320 --> 00:08:00,880
subject matter experts, get your
questions answered and that and
126
00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:02,720
yeah, that can be wildfire
smoke.
127
00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:06,400
More and more we are looking at
increasing the pace and scale
128
00:08:06,400 --> 00:08:09,760
prescribed fire in the state to
try to reduce the risk of
129
00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:12,000
massive conflagrations over
time.
130
00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:16,240
And that means more smoke in
community more of the year.
131
00:08:16,760 --> 00:08:18,600
But it's smoke that people can
prepare for.
132
00:08:18,720 --> 00:08:24,560
And so, you know, these are the
our summer hazards extend to
133
00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:28,800
other things, harmful algae
blooms, extreme heat, of course,
134
00:08:28,800 --> 00:08:32,480
which is, you know, a huge issue
and growing issue.
135
00:08:32,480 --> 00:08:37,440
And then not only heat separate
from smoke, but heat and smoke
136
00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:40,200
at the same time.
We are really focusing a lot on
137
00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:45,200
that as looking at the health
impacts around that combination.
138
00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:51,200
So we are, you know, here as a
resource for our local partners
139
00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,120
when they're trying to
communicate locally and we're
140
00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:59,160
providing empathetic messaging
that's science based and we
141
00:08:59,160 --> 00:09:01,360
follow.
You know, the mantra for us is
142
00:09:01,360 --> 00:09:03,760
here's what we know, here's what
we don't know, here's what we're
143
00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:06,800
doing about it.
We applied that, you know,
144
00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,040
across the board in
environmental public health, but
145
00:09:09,200 --> 00:09:13,040
you know, certainly in this
context and that is good
146
00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:14,720
guidance.
When you tell people what you
147
00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,640
don't know, they tend to trust
what more what you say you do
148
00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:21,240
know.
And in the case of prescribed
149
00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:25,080
fires, I imagine that's adding a
layer of complexity because
150
00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,560
you've got a practice that's
completely it's, you know, it's
151
00:09:28,560 --> 00:09:32,080
designed to prevent future
wildfires.
152
00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:36,880
At the same time, you're sort of
adding environmental hazards and
153
00:09:36,920 --> 00:09:39,400
you know no one wants that, but
also no one wants them to be
154
00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:41,920
uncontrolled.
You know, you're sort of adding
155
00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:46,040
a level of danger to to a safe
practice.
156
00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:53,440
Yeah, it, it is, You know, in
terms of there has been a lot of
157
00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:58,600
conservatism and a lot of
concerns to make sure as much as
158
00:09:58,600 --> 00:10:02,400
possible that when this
prescribed burn burns happen.
159
00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:05,000
And this is our view, the
responsibility of our of our
160
00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:09,320
natural resource agency land
manager partners, but that they
161
00:10:09,880 --> 00:10:14,800
the risk of it going astray is,
is minimized.
162
00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,960
It's really about the smoke
impacts that we're putting in.
163
00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,440
And it was a hard, you know, it
was a decision that Oregon
164
00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,840
Health Authority as an agency,
you know, smoke is smoke.
165
00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:27,320
It's bad for health.
There's no good smoke.
166
00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:33,960
But looking at the science, it's
been shown that doing treating
167
00:10:33,960 --> 00:10:38,720
forests, restoring forest health
and restoring the natural cycles
168
00:10:38,720 --> 00:10:44,360
of fire in our forests over time
will mean that we don't have
169
00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:48,640
massive wildfire that blankets
huge parts of the state or even
170
00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:52,440
in 2020, the entire state is
blanketed with hazardous levels
171
00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:54,280
of smoke.
And that was really eye opening
172
00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,880
for a lot of people.
We are experiential learners.
173
00:10:58,320 --> 00:11:01,000
And that that we had a nine
month period.
174
00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:05,680
We had, you know, massive fires
that destroyed 4000 homes.
175
00:11:06,720 --> 00:11:12,160
The next most damaging fire in
2015 destroyed 50 homes like we
176
00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,840
it was it was really a a huge
impact.
177
00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:18,640
And again, parts of the state
that don't regular and rarely or
178
00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:22,040
never experienced smoke
experience such extreme smoke.
179
00:11:22,560 --> 00:11:27,920
It was falled a few months later
by a severe ice storm and then a
180
00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:34,240
few months later in June of 2021
by our heat Dome that killed,
181
00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:36,800
you know, well over 100 people
in the state.
182
00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:43,800
And those events really brought
to everybody's consciousness the
183
00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:48,400
realities of what climate change
strip and hazards are, are
184
00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:51,160
posing in terms of a risk to
health.
185
00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:58,160
So with all that, we still need
to work with community to make
186
00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:02,600
sure that we're doing everything
we can to protect them with
187
00:12:02,640 --> 00:12:06,040
communication above all, so
people can take steps to protect
188
00:12:06,040 --> 00:12:11,080
themselves before the prescribed
fire and also during the
189
00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,320
prescribed fire so they know
what's going on.
190
00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,800
And for some populations and to
the extent we have resources,
191
00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:21,320
direct interventions like
providing air filtration devices
192
00:12:21,320 --> 00:12:26,320
to adult foster homes, for
example, or to our Medicaid
193
00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:29,600
population.
So those are all things that we
194
00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:33,600
can do ahead of prescribed fire
that also help with wildfire,
195
00:12:33,680 --> 00:12:37,520
frankly, smoke resilience.
We have a Healthy Homes grant
196
00:12:37,520 --> 00:12:42,800
program that the legislature
directed us to stand up.
197
00:12:42,800 --> 00:12:46,280
And the big focus of that is
weatherization and heat pump
198
00:12:46,280 --> 00:12:50,280
installation to help get people
HVAC system that protect them
199
00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:52,640
from heat and smoke, for
example.
200
00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:57,440
So we're working on a lot of
broad fronts to try to protect
201
00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:02,840
people from these risks.
Yeah, as unfortunately these
202
00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:07,280
these kinds of climate related
environmental hazards sort of
203
00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:09,960
keep accelerating.
Right.
204
00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:14,520
Yeah, we're saying it in other
contexts.
205
00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:20,920
We believe likely that harmful
algae blooms are expanding in in
206
00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:23,000
their freak increasing in their
frequency.
207
00:13:23,960 --> 00:13:27,520
For example, as another one, I I
would say at the top of our list
208
00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:30,920
are smoke and heat.
Those are the ones that are the
209
00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:35,320
things that we are most
supporting, you know, through
210
00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:39,560
investments in public health
modernization, we are resourcing
211
00:13:40,080 --> 00:13:43,280
local county public health and
tribes and community based
212
00:13:43,280 --> 00:13:48,440
organizations to develop,
identify populations at risk
213
00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:51,960
from these climate threats,
develop plans, strategies,
214
00:13:51,960 --> 00:13:54,720
partnerships to address those
risks.
215
00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,560
It's hard for them to keep going
with those investments and
216
00:13:59,560 --> 00:14:04,400
actions at the same time that
other basic core public health
217
00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:10,880
infrastructure is feeling a lot
of pressure and losses.
218
00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:15,800
But but we continue to to
provide that support, provide
219
00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:19,880
Technical Support and set those
expectations that as much as
220
00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:23,760
possible, we need to try to
continue to build the resilience
221
00:14:23,760 --> 00:14:28,600
of communities to these threats.
Gabriella Goldfarb is
222
00:14:28,600 --> 00:14:31,200
environmental public health
section manager for the Oregon
223
00:14:31,200 --> 00:14:33,120
Health Authority public Health
Division.
224
00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:36,440
This has been Public Health
Review MORNING Edition.
225
00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:39,240
I'm John Sheehan for the
Association of State and
226
00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:40,560
Territorial Health Officials.