Oregonian file photo

After the second of Mount St. Helens' three big eruptions in 1980, ash hung in the air in downtown Portland, limiting visibility and raising health concerns

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By Grant Butler, The Oregonian/OregonLive

Ash from the Eagle Creek fire in the Columbia River Gorge continued to fall across the Portland metro area on Tuesday, with dense smoke raising concerns about unhealthy air conditions. The dusting of ash drew immediate comparisons on social media to the volcanic ash that fell after Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980.

While the wildfire ash is unsettling, it hardly compares to the amount that was dumped on the Pacific Northwest and beyond when Mount St. Helens erupted. It threw ash 80,000 feet into the air – so high that a cloud was carried around the Earth for 15 days. Cities east of the mountain saw some of the heaviest ash fall, with places like Spokane and Richland getting as much as 5 inches on the ground. The Portland area got a dusting from that and later eruptions, with ash covering cars.

The ash from the eruption was significantly grittier than the wildfire ash. Because Mount St. Helens essentially blew its top, the ash was heavy, comparable to fine sand. The ash from the Eagle Creek fire that is falling on the Portland area lighter, and has been described as "snow-like" by the National Weather Service. Some people on social media have compared the wildfire ash to dandruff.

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Michael Lloyd, The Oregonian

After Mount St. Helens erupted in 1980, people in downtown Portland used masks to keep from breathing in volcanic ash.

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Ash pileup on the wipers. pic.twitter.com/aoILAtOTMg — iotadART (@iotadart) September 5, 2017

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Ash-fall from the Eagle Creek fire varied significantly Tuesday throughout the metro area, ranging from a light dusting in Beaverton, with the amount getting heavier closer to the Columbia River Gorge. In Battle Ground, Washington, people reported that enough ash fell overnight to leave tire tracks on the roads. In Gresham, there was enough ash to cover windshields – reminiscent of the St. Helens ash that blanketed the area.

Get the latest updates on the Eagle Creek fire.

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If your car was covered with ash, you should avoid brushing it off, since the grit from the ash can scratch your car’s paintjob. Instead, rinse it off using water, or let it blow off naturally while driving. If you’re hoping Mother Nature will do the job, you may have to wait awhile, since there’s only a slight chance of rain on Thursday and Friday.

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-- Grant Butler

gbutler@oregonian.com

503-221-8566; @grantbutler