KATU News Tristan Fortsch

As we head into Day 5 of the Eagle Creek fire, here are five things you need to know about the blaze:

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KATU News - Tristan Fortsch

1. No arrests have been made

Oregon State Police have identified a 15-year-old Vancouver boy as a suspect who is believed responsible for the start of the Eagle Creek fire. Police have not identified him by name and are looking for more witnesses.

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Mark Graves/Staff

2. Beware the air

Smoke and ash from wildfires raging across large sections of western Oregon is "not something to mess with," state environmental authorities said Tuesday, urging millions of people to stay in their homes and avoid prolonged exposure if possible. Headaches, watery eyes and scratchy throats could be early symptoms of over-exposure to the stagnant smoky air. The health effects could be much more serious for asthma sufferers and other so-called sensitive groups. Furthermore, dust masks and painting masks are completely ineffective at blocking out harmful particulates. Masks that are labeled N95 or N100 could be effective if properly fitted. Those are available at hardware stores.

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Photo courtesy Arianna Frye/@arifrye

3. Everyone's watching the weather

The National Weather Service in Portland says that relief in several forms might be on its way. First, winds that have been blowing ash and smoke into Portland are expected to shift west overnight, so that air quality will slowly start to improve as early as Wednesday morning. Wednesday evening, there is a chance of showers and thunderstorms, which would be the first in months.

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Mark Graves/Staff

4. Hundreds of people have been evacuated so far

As of Tuesday evening, about 400 residences in Multnomah County and close to 300 in Hood River County are under an immediate evacuation notice as the Eagle Creek wildfire spread throughout the day. Several roads in Skamania County, Washington, have also been evacuated, meaning there are likely many more than the 700 in Oregon.

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Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian/OregonLive

5. You can help

Officials encourage people to donate money, not goods, right now. "When donations of used goods or other goods are dropped off they can do more harm than good," said Monique Dugaw, regional director of communications for the American Red Cross-Cascades Region. "It takes volunteer efforts to sort through those items, which takes away from volunteer efforts to immediately help." The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office issued a statement Tuesday encouraging people who want to help immediately to donate money to the Red Cross. Longer term, "We are working to assess the needs of the community," the statement says. "We will release specific information as to how community members can assist and actions you can take as they become available." The Hood River County Sheriff's Office posted a phone number for people to call if they wanted to help: 541-387-6911.



--The Oregonian/OregonLive