Residents across a wide swath of Oregon and Washington are breathing unhealthy to hazardous air this week as smoke from dozens of active wildfires blankets the region. State environmental agencies have issued a series of air quality advisories, and air monitoring stations in some areas are recording AQI values that exceed the top of standard measurement scales.

Oregon DEQ Advisories

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued air quality advisories covering multiple counties in the north-central and eastern portions of the state. Affected counties include Baker, Union, Umatilla, Crook, Jefferson, northern Union, and southern Wasco counties, where smoke from multiple fires in Oregon and Washington is creating sustained unhealthy air quality conditions.

The advisories — which designate air quality in the "Unhealthy" to "Very Unhealthy" AQI range for sensitive groups and the general population — are expected to persist as long as fire activity remains elevated and wind patterns continue pushing smoke into populated valleys.

DEQ and partner agencies are monitoring smoke concentrations continuously and update advisories as conditions change. Residents are encouraged to check OregonAir.org for real-time conditions in their zip code.

Washington Smoke Crisis

Across Washington, smoke conditions have been even more severe in some areas. Air monitoring stations in the Chelan County area — in the vicinity of the Little Giant Fire — have recorded AQI values reaching hazardous levels, with some readings exceeding an AQI of 500, beyond the top of standard public-facing graphics. The Washington Smoke Blog, which tracks monitoring station data for the state, noted that instruments are measuring and reporting above AQI 500 in some locations.

Governor Bob Ferguson's statewide burn ban, in effect through September 30, prohibits all unauthorized outdoor burning across all 39 Washington counties. The Washington State Department of Ecology is coordinating smoke monitoring and public health advisories.

Health Guidance for Smoke-Affected Areas

Health officials across both states are urging residents to take the smoke threat seriously. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in wildfire smoke penetrates deep into the lungs and can cause both immediate and long-term health effects.

  • Stay indoors with windows and doors closed when AQI exceeds 150 ("Unhealthy")
  • Use air purifiers with HEPA filters if available; set HVAC systems to recirculate rather than draw in outside air
  • Wear N95 or KN95 masks if you must go outside — surgical masks and cloth coverings do not filter fine smoke particles
  • Avoid strenuous outdoor activity during poor air quality periods
  • Check on neighbors, particularly the elderly and those with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions
  • Keep pets indoors and avoid walking them in smoky conditions

Cooling centers and clean-air shelters are available in many communities for residents without air conditioning or air filtration. Contact your local emergency management office or dial 211 to find the nearest location.

Looking Ahead

NIFC's fire weather forecast calls for continued dry, breezy conditions across the inland Northwest through at least the end of August, with temperatures remaining 10 to 15 degrees above normal. Until fire activity subsides and weather patterns shift, smoke will remain a persistent hazard across the Pacific Northwest. Air quality conditions can change rapidly as wind direction shifts — residents should check forecasts daily rather than relying on conditions from the day before.