Wildfire smoke from dozens of fires burning across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho continues to blanket large portions of the Pacific Northwest, with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) maintaining active air quality advisories for multiple counties as of August 24, 2026.

Recent advisories have covered Crook, Jefferson, Wallowa, and portions of Wasco counties, with additional advisories issued periodically for western Oregon counties as smoke plumes shift with changing winds. The Southwest Clean Air Agency has similarly issued joint advisories with Oregon DEQ for portions of southwest Washington when smoke drifts westward from fires in the Cascades.

How Bad Is It?

Air quality near some active fire perimeters has reached well into the Hazardous category (AQI above 300) during peak fire activity days. In the Leavenworth, Washington area, monitors tied to the Little Giant Fire recorded some of the worst readings of the 2026 season, with AQI values exceeding 400 at times — a level that poses serious health risks to everyone, not just sensitive populations.

Portland recorded episodes of air quality among the worst of any major city worldwide during early August smoke events, according to monitoring data reported by OPB. Smoke reached far beyond the region: the San Francisco Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued its own advisory as Pacific Northwest smoke drifted south along the coast.

Who Is Most at Risk

Health officials emphasize that while everyone is affected by heavy smoke, certain groups face higher risks:

  • People with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or other respiratory or cardiovascular conditions
  • Elderly individuals
  • Children and infants
  • Pregnant women
  • People who work outdoors

Protective Actions

Officials recommend the following steps to reduce smoke exposure:

  • Stay indoors with windows and doors closed when air quality is poor.
  • Run air conditioning on recirculate mode rather than drawing in outside air.
  • Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter if available.
  • Avoid strenuous outdoor activity during peak smoke hours — typically mid-afternoon.
  • Wear a properly fitted N95 respirator if you must be outside; cloth masks and surgical masks do not filter fine smoke particles effectively.
  • Create a clean room in your home by closing off one room and running a purifier.

Monitor Air Quality Daily

The National Interagency Fire Center specifically recommends fire.airnow.gov as the best resource for monitoring real-time air quality linked to wildfire smoke. The site shows current AQI readings by location and can help residents identify the hours of day when air quality is least harmful for necessary outdoor activities.

Oregon's own smoke information portal at oregonsmoke.org provides daily smoke forecast maps and advisory updates tailored to Oregon communities. Washington residents can find smoke information through the Washington State Department of Ecology's AirWatch Northwest program.

Smoke conditions are expected to fluctuate this week as a weather system passes through the region, but officials caution that with so many large fires still active, persistent smoke impacts are likely through at least early September.