Thick wildfire smoke is blanketing large portions of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, pushing air quality into the unhealthy and hazardous ranges for millions of residents. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued air quality advisories covering multiple counties, and state and federal health officials are urging residents — particularly those with respiratory conditions — to limit outdoor exposure.

Air Quality Advisory Through Monday

Oregon DEQ expects its air quality advisory to remain in effect at least through Monday afternoon, July 27, 2026. The advisory covers counties including Deschutes, Gilliam, and portions of Harney and other north-central counties, reflecting the broad geographic reach of smoke from multiple fire complexes.

Two monitoring stations in Bend recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) values above 200 — the threshold for "Very Unhealthy" conditions — earlier this week. At these levels, the general public begins to experience health effects, and sensitive groups, including children, the elderly, and people with asthma or heart disease, face serious risk.

Sources of the Smoke

The smoke is primarily driven by several large fire complexes burning in the region:

  • The Rowe Creek Complex (208,000+ acres, north-central Oregon)
  • The Big Grass Fire (280,000+ acres, Oregon-Idaho border)
  • Multiple smaller fires across the Deschutes and other national forests

Depending on wind direction, smoke from these fires can travel hundreds of miles, affecting communities far from the active fire perimeters. Upper-level winds have periodically channeled smoke from Oregon fires into the Willamette Valley and western Washington as well.

Five-State Air Quality Alert

The National Weather Service issued air quality alerts for portions of Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho during the past week, reflecting the regional scope of the smoke problem. In Oregon and Washington, AQI levels in the "Red" (Unhealthy, 151-200) range were forecast for Friday, with some areas reaching higher.

Health Guidance

Health officials recommend the following when smoke is in the area:

  • Stay indoors with windows and doors closed as much as possible
  • Run air conditioning on recirculation mode to avoid drawing in outside air
  • Use a portable air purifier with a HEPA filter if available
  • Wear an N95 or KN95 respirator if outdoor activity is necessary — cloth masks do not filter fine particles
  • Check AirNow.gov or your local DEQ website for current AQI readings
  • Seek medical attention if you experience difficulty breathing, chest pain, or unusual fatigue

Residents can also look up local air quality and smoke forecasts at OregonSmoke.org and AirNow.gov. Conditions can change rapidly as winds shift and fire behavior evolves.