Air Quality Alert: How to Protect Yourself When Wildfire Smoke Arrives in the Pacific Northwest

As wildfire season advances across the Pacific Northwest, smoke from fires in Oregon, Washington, Idaho — and sometimes from fires as far away as Canada or California — can blanket communities with hazardous air quality in a matter of hours. With a potentially active 2026 season ahead, health and air quality agencies are encouraging residents to prepare now for smoke events.

Current Regional Air Quality

As of mid-May 2026, air quality across most of the Pacific Northwest remains in the Good to Moderate range, benefiting from recent light precipitation across the west side of the Cascades. However, prescribed fire smoke from operations on the Deschutes National Forest earlier this month briefly impacted air quality in the Bend area, and fire managers note that smoke from new ignitions could arrive quickly as dry conditions spread.

Residents can check real-time air quality data for their location at airnow.gov, which provides AQI readings and health guidance based on pollutant levels. The Washington State Department of Ecology also maintains a dedicated wildfire smoke page at ecology.wa.gov with region-specific forecasts.

Understanding the Air Quality Index

The Air Quality Index (AQI) for PM2.5 — the fine particulate matter in wildfire smoke — is the key metric to watch during fire season:

0-50 (Good): Air quality is satisfactory; outdoor activity is safe
51-100 (Moderate): Unusually sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion
101-150 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups): People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should reduce prolonged outdoor exertion
151-200 (Unhealthy): Everyone may begin to experience health effects; sensitive groups should avoid outdoor exertion
201-300 (Very Unhealthy): Serious health risk; everyone should avoid outdoor exertion
301+ (Hazardous): Health emergency; everyone should stay indoors

Protecting Your Household

When smoke events occur, the most important protective step is to reduce indoor smoke infiltration. Recommendations from public health agencies include:

Keep windows and doors closed; use air conditioning on recirculate mode if available
Use a portable air purifier with a HEPA filter in rooms where family members spend the most time
If outdoor air quality is poor, avoid activities that cause heavy breathing
N95 respirators — not cloth masks — provide meaningful protection when worn correctly outdoors during smoke events
Check on neighbors, especially elderly individuals or those with respiratory conditions

Vulnerable Populations

Children, elderly individuals, pregnant women, and people with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or diabetes face elevated health risks during smoke events. Outdoor workers — including agricultural workers, construction crews, and utility workers — are also at heightened risk. Oregon and Washington OSHA have wildfire smoke rules requiring employers to take protective measures when AQI for PM2.5 exceeds 101.

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