As active wildfires burn across Eastern Washington and new ignitions threaten Central and Eastern Oregon, state and federal air quality officials are urging residents to monitor local air quality conditions daily and take protective action when smoke levels rise. With the fire season expected to be above-normal through the summer, smoke impacts may be frequent and widespread.

Current Smoke Conditions

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has flagged that smoke from active fires may affect localized areas in Central and Eastern Oregon as of late June 2026. Smoke transport is highly dependent on wind patterns, and conditions can shift rapidly — an area with clear skies in the morning may be choked with smoke by afternoon as fires ramp up with the day's heat.

In Eastern Washington, the Garred Road Fire in Grant and Douglas counties and the now-largely-contained Kartar Fire in Okanogan County have both produced significant smoke plumes in recent days. Communities downwind, including Coulee City, Moses Lake, Wenatchee, and portions of the Yakima Valley, have experienced periods of degraded air quality.

Understanding the Air Quality Index

The Air Quality Index (AQI), tracked at AirNow.gov, measures fine particulate matter (PM2.5) — the primary pollutant in wildfire smoke. The index runs from 0 to 500+, with higher numbers indicating greater health risk. The categories are:

  • 0–50 (Good): Air quality is satisfactory; outdoor activities are safe for everyone.
  • 51–100 (Moderate): Acceptable air quality; some pollutants may be a concern for a very small number of sensitive people.
  • 101–150 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups): People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged outdoor exertion.
  • 151–200 (Unhealthy): Everyone may begin to experience health effects; sensitive groups should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.
  • 201–300 (Very Unhealthy): Health alert — everyone should avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.
  • 301+ (Hazardous): Health warnings of emergency conditions; entire population is likely to be affected.

Protecting Yourself From Smoke

Oregon DEQ and Washington State Department of Ecology recommend the following steps when smoke is present:

  • Stay indoors when the AQI is 100 or above, especially during peak smoke hours (afternoon and early evening).
  • Keep windows and doors closed. Run air conditioning on recirculate mode if available.
  • Use air purifiers with HEPA filters to reduce indoor particulate levels.
  • Wear an N95 or P100 respirator if you must go outside during smoky conditions — cloth masks and surgical masks do not filter fine smoke particles.
  • Avoid strenuous outdoor activity when smoke is visible or the smell of smoke is present.
  • Check on vulnerable neighbors — older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with heart or lung conditions face greater health risks from smoke exposure.

Resources for Monitoring Air Quality

Several free, publicly available tools let you monitor air quality in real time:

  • AirNow.gov — The primary federal resource for real-time AQI data and fire and smoke maps across the country.
  • Oregon DEQ Air Quality — Oregon-specific monitoring at aqicn.org and oregonsmoke.org during active smoke events.
  • Washington Smoke Information — wasmoke.blogspot.com provides daily smoke forecasts and commentary from Washington air quality specialists.
  • NWS Fire Weather Forecasts — weather.gov provides smoke dispersion forecasts in fire weather products.

Looking Ahead This Season

The 2026 fire season is tracking well above the 10-year average for both fire starts and acres burned, and NIFC's seasonal outlook calls for above-normal fire potential across the Northwest east of the Cascades through at least August. Residents of Eastern Oregon, Eastern Washington, and central Idaho should plan for multiple smoke episodes this summer and take steps now to be prepared — including stocking N95 masks, checking HVAC filters, and identifying clean-air spaces in their communities such as libraries and community centers.