Wildfire smoke from dozens of active fires across Oregon and Washington has blanketed much of the state, prompting air quality advisories that now extend from eastern Oregon all the way to the Portland metropolitan area. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued the advisory on August 3, citing smoke that is moving west of the Cascades for the first time this season.

Affected Areas

The air quality advisory covers a broad swath of Oregon, including:

  • Portland Metro Area — Advisory issued August 3; smoke from fires in eastern Oregon and Washington pushing westward through the Columbia River Gorge
  • Umatilla County — Severely impacted by smoke from the Hagen Fire and other Umatilla National Forest fires east of Pendleton
  • Union County — Smoke impacts from Blue Mountain fire complex activity
  • Wallowa County — Multiple fires burning in and near the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest contributing to poor air quality
  • Southern Wasco County — Smoke from central Oregon fires affecting communities south of The Dalles
  • Central Oregon — Smoke from numerous wildfires has significantly reduced visibility and degraded air quality across Crook, Jefferson, and Deschutes counties

What the Air Quality Numbers Mean

Air quality is measured using the Air Quality Index (AQI). When the AQI reaches the Orange category (101-150), sensitive groups — including children, the elderly, and people with heart or lung disease — should reduce prolonged outdoor activities. Red category (151-200) means everyone should reduce outdoor exertion. Purple (201-300) indicates very unhealthy conditions for all people.

During active smoke events in the Pacific Northwest, AQI readings in affected communities can fluctuate significantly hour to hour depending on wind shifts and fire behavior. Residents are urged to check AirNow.gov for real-time local readings before spending time outdoors.

Health Recommendations

  • Check AirNow.gov or the Oregon DEQ Air Quality app for real-time readings in your area
  • Stay indoors with windows and doors closed when smoke is heavy
  • Set HVAC systems to recirculate rather than pulling outside air
  • Use N95 or P100 respirators if you must be outdoors — cloth masks and surgical masks do not filter fine smoke particles
  • Avoid strenuous outdoor exercise when AQI exceeds 100
  • Check on neighbors, particularly elderly individuals or those with respiratory conditions
  • Never idle your vehicle indoors to avoid contributing to indoor air pollution

Looking Ahead

With more than 33 large fires actively burning in Oregon and 16 in Washington, air quality conditions across the Pacific Northwest are likely to remain poor or variable for the foreseeable future. Weather patterns in August typically favor light, easterly flow across the Cascades, which can channel smoke from interior fires into the Willamette Valley and coastal areas.

The Oregon Smoke blog at oregonsmoke.org provides daily updates on smoke forecasts and air quality conditions specific to Oregon communities throughout fire season.