Wildfire Smoke Blankets Central and Northeast Oregon; Air Quality Alerts Persist Across the Pacific Northwest

Residents across the Pacific Northwest are being advised to limit outdoor activity and take precautions against wildfire smoke as plumes from dozens of active fires create hazardous and very unhealthy air quality across the region. Central and Northeast Oregon are bearing the brunt of current smoke impacts, while portions of Washington continue to see intermittent smoke events driven by shifting winds.

Oregon: Hood River, Prineville Among Hardest Hit

Smoke from Oregon's numerous active wildfires is significantly impacting communities in Central and Northeastern Oregon. Hood River and Prineville are among the areas experiencing periods of very unhealthy air quality, driven primarily by smoke from the Grasshopper Fire on the Mt. Hood National Forest, the Hagen and Paradise fires on the Umatilla National Forest, and the constellation of smaller active fires burning in Wheeler, Grant, and Baker counties.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) and local clean air agencies have issued smoke advisories for affected regions. Valleys can experience heavier smoke concentrations during overnight and morning hours before daytime heating and shifting winds temporarily disperse the smoke — a pattern residents in Central Oregon know well from previous fire seasons. Conditions are expected to change repeatedly through the Labor Day weekend as wind directions shift and new smoke is generated from active fire fronts.

Air quality advisories have also been issued for Baker and Umatilla Counties, citing multiple wildfires in Oregon and Washington as smoke sources. The Elkhorn Media Group reported an intermittent smoke advisory for those counties through late August.

Washington: Skagit, Whatcom, and Skamania Counties Under Alerts

In Washington, the Northwest Clean Air Agency issued an Air Quality Alert for Skagit and Whatcom Counties as smoke from fires burning in British Columbia and eastern Washington drifted west. The Southwest Clean Air Agency also issued an air quality alert for wildfire smoke for Skamania County — located along the Columbia River Gorge — with intermittent impacts expected in neighboring areas as well.

Wildfire smoke from active fires across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana has been generating moderate-density smoke plumes that have generally drifted northeast, though upper-level wind pattern changes can rapidly redirect smoke toward any populated area.

Protecting Yourself From Wildfire Smoke

Public health officials recommend the following steps when air quality is in the unhealthy or very unhealthy range:

Stay indoors with windows and doors closed
Run air conditioning in recirculate mode, not fresh air
Use HEPA air purifiers if available
Wear an N95 or KN95 mask if you must go outside — cloth masks do not filter fine smoke particles
Avoid vigorous outdoor exercise
Check on vulnerable neighbors, especially elderly residents and those with respiratory conditions
Keep children and pets indoors during high smoke periods

Who Is Most at Risk

Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. People at greatest risk from smoke exposure include the elderly, children, pregnant women, and anyone with heart or lung disease, asthma, or other respiratory conditions. Even healthy adults can experience irritation and reduced lung function when exposed to smoke at very unhealthy levels for extended periods.

Where to Monitor Air Quality

Residents can monitor current air quality conditions at AirNow.gov, which displays real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) readings for communities across Oregon and Washington. The Washington Smoke Blog (wasmoke.blogspot.com) also provides detailed smoke forecasts for the Puget Sound region and beyond. Oregon DEQ's AQI page and local clean air agency websites provide county-specific guidance and alert notifications.