The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has extended its air quality advisory through at least Wednesday afternoon, September 2, 2026, for multiple counties in central and eastern Oregon. The advisory is driven by wildfire smoke from active fire complexes burning throughout the region, with residents urged to limit outdoor exposure and take protective measures.

Counties Under Advisory

The DEQ advisory covers several counties, including portions of eastern Marion County, with smoke-impacted areas extending across central Oregon. Deschutes County transitioned to an intermittent smoke advisory by Tuesday evening, September 1, as conditions there began to improve. Baker County and eastern Clackamas County are also seeing intermittent smoke impacts, with DEQ and partner agencies continuing to monitor air quality closely.

The smoke is primarily generated by fires burning on and around the Mt. Hood, Umatilla, Wallowa-Whitman, and Fremont-Winema National Forests, as well as Bureau of Land Management lands across eastern Oregon. Wildfires across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana have been generating moderate-to-heavy smoke plumes that are generally drifting eastward.

Health Risks and Who Is Most at Risk

Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5), toxic gases, and other harmful compounds. Prolonged exposure can cause respiratory and cardiovascular problems even in healthy individuals. Those at highest risk include:

  • Older adults (65 and above)
  • Children and infants
  • Individuals with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or diabetes
  • Pregnant women
  • Outdoor workers

Protective Measures Recommended

DEQ and Oregon Health Authority recommend the following steps when smoke is present:

  • Stay indoors with windows and doors closed
  • Run air conditioners on recirculate mode rather than drawing in outside air
  • Use a portable air purifier with a HEPA filter if available
  • Wear an N95 or P100 respirator if you must go outside — cloth masks do not filter smoke particles
  • Avoid strenuous outdoor activity, including exercise
  • Check your local AQI before heading outside at AirNow.gov

Monitoring and Resources

Real-time air quality data for Oregon counties is available at oregonsmoke.org and AirNow.gov. The Oregon Smoke Information Blog (oregonsmoke.org) publishes daily updates on smoke conditions across the state. Residents may also call 2-1-1 for local health and safety resources.

DEQ and partner agencies expect smoke conditions to fluctuate through at least this week as fire activity remains elevated. If conditions worsen or new large fires develop upwind of populated areas, additional advisories may be issued on short notice. Residents should sign up for local emergency alerts and check forecasts regularly throughout the remainder of fire season.