The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

Rainfall across much of Sisters Country helped to scour away smoke for the first time in many days last Friday, and Sisters enjoyed a couple of days of good air quality.

The return of blue skies and breathable air was welcomed by local folks, who took advantage of the change to get out for walks and bike rides that had been impossible while air quality across the region was so hazardous that it ranked worst in the United States.

The smoke impact from fires across the western United States is not over, however. While rainfall helped firefighters make progress against wildfires that have burned a million acres in Oregon and millions more in California, Washington, and other western states, fires continue to burn. By late Sunday, a smoky haze had crept back into Sisters Country and on Monday air quality was rated unhealthy for sensitive groups.

Conditions are expected to improve through the week, and rain is in the forecast for Wednesday night, with showers persisting through Friday.

The impact from the massive, destructive wildfires on the west side of the Cascades will be felt for some time. Both Highway 22 and Highway 126 are expected to remain closed for a considerable period — perhaps into winter — due to the danger of falling trees and rock. OregonLive reported last week that hundreds of thousands of trees will have to be removed along those routes.

ODOT spokesman Peter Murphy told The Nugget on Monday that the agency is discussing whether Highway 242 will be reopened to the portion of Highway 126 unaffected by the fire, so that motorists can drive the loop through the scenic mountain area during fall. Murphy said that that call will be made in collaboration with the Forest Service and with ODOT officials on the west side (watch for updates at www.nuggetnews.com).