Wildfire Smoke Continues to Impact Pacific Northwest Air Quality; Dozens of Counties Under Advisory

Wildfire smoke from dozens of active fires burning across Oregon, Washington, and Idaho continues to degrade air quality across the Pacific Northwest, with agencies issuing advisories and alerts for residents in dozens of counties. While conditions have improved modestly from the peak smoke events of late July and early August, health officials warn that smoke impacts remain significant and could worsen quickly with any change in wind direction.

Washington: Multi-County Air Quality Alert Remains

The Washington Department of Ecology, in coordination with the Colville Confederated Tribes Environmental Protection Agency and the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency, has issued an Air Quality Alert for eastern Washington counties due to current and expected smoke from regional fires. The alert covers:

Adams, Asotin, Chelan, and Douglas counties
Ferry, Garfield, Grant, and Lincoln counties
Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Stevens counties
Whitman County

With 12 large fires actively burning across eastern Washington, particulate concentrations are expected to remain elevated indefinitely. The alert is issued on a rolling basis with no firm end date, reflecting the ongoing nature of fire activity in the region.

Oregon: Intermittent Smoke Continues in Multiple Regions

Oregon's air quality situation has improved from the August peak, when advisories blanketed the state from the coast to the high desert. However, smoke advisories remain active or intermittent for several regions, with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) noting that concentrations can shift rapidly based on changing wind and weather patterns.

Counties that have experienced the most persistent smoke impacts this season include Crook, Deschutes, Jefferson, eastern Marion, Gilliam, Grant, Hood River, southern Klamath, Lane, Linn, Morrow, Sherman, northern Wasco, and Wheeler. Deschutes County in particular has dealt with prolonged smoke exposure tied to multiple fires burning along the Cascade flanks.

The Portland metro area and Vancouver, Washington have also experienced intermittent smoke events when winds carry smoke from eastern fires over the Cascades.

Idaho: Smoke Impacts Extend Across Much of the State

Idaho's Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has at various points this season issued advisories covering as many as 35 of the state's 44 counties. The most persistently affected counties include Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley, and Washington counties — broadly encompassing the Treasure Valley and surrounding mountain communities.

Idaho's seven active large fires — including the Cascade Fire (7,475 acres), Moose Mountain (5,832 acres), Upper Smith (4,848 acres), Silver Fire (2,593 acres), and Parker Lake Fire (1,531 acres) in the Idaho Panhandle — continue to produce smoke that impacts air quality across downwind communities.

Health Guidance for Smoke-Impacted Communities

Public health officials across the region recommend the following steps when air quality is in the Unhealthy or Very Unhealthy range (AQI 151–200+):

Stay indoors with windows and doors closed
Use air purifiers with HEPA filtration if available
Avoid strenuous outdoor activity, especially for children, elderly, and those with heart or lung conditions
Wear an N95 or KN95 mask if you must go outside — cloth masks do not filter fine smoke particles
Monitor AirNow.gov for real-time AQI readings by ZIP code
Keep pets indoors when possible

Smoke impacts from wildfire are a significant public health concern. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in wildfire smoke can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing respiratory irritation, cardiovascular stress, and aggravating pre-existing conditions including asthma, COPD, and heart disease.

Outlook