The first week of June 2026 is National Smoke Ready Week, and air quality agencies across Oregon, Washington, and the rest of the country are using the occasion to push a clear message: prepare for wildfire smoke now, before conditions deteriorate. With forecasters predicting an above-average fire season for the Pacific Northwest, local clean air agencies say the time to act is while the air is still clear.

Lane County Residents Urged to Act Now

The Lane Regional Air Protection Agency (LRAPA) in Eugene, Oregon issued a news release this week urging Lane County residents to take concrete steps to protect themselves from smoke before fire season peaks. The agency's specific recommendations include:

  • Acquire an N-95 respirator mask rated for wildfire smoke
  • Assemble components for a homemade air purifier using a box fan and high-quality HEPA-rated furnace filter
  • Inspect doors, windows, and weatherstripping to reduce the amount of smoky outdoor air infiltrating your home
  • Identify a nearby designated clean air shelter in your community

LRAPA noted that families with young children, people with respiratory conditions such as asthma or COPD, the elderly, and pregnant women are at heightened risk from smoke exposure and should take extra precautions. Instructions for building a DIY air purifier and additional preparedness tips are available on the LRAPA website at lrapa-or.gov.

ORCAA and Statewide Coordination

The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA), which covers much of western Washington including the Olympic Peninsula, Grays Harbor, Mason, and Thurston counties, is also participating in Smoke Ready Week activities. Throughout the week, ORCAA and partner agencies are sharing information on best practices for dealing with smoke events when they impact communities — from understanding the Air Quality Index to knowing when to limit outdoor activity.

Scientific Perspective from UW Bothell

Dr. Dan Jaffe, an atmospheric scientist at the University of Washington Bothell, is among the researchers sharing insights this week about what residents can expect in the coming months. Jaffe's long-running work on wildfire smoke transport has documented how smoke from Pacific Northwest fires can blanket entire regions for days or weeks at a time, with health effects reaching populations hundreds of miles from the fire perimeter.

Why This Year Demands Attention

The urgency behind this year's Smoke Ready Week messaging is driven by a convergence of concerning indicators. Oregon experienced one of its warmest winters on record, and snowpack across the Northwest stood at roughly one-third of normal levels heading into spring. Forecasters expect above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation to persist through the summer and into early fall.

The American Lung Association's 2026 State of the Air report, covering data from 2022–2024, identified much of the Pacific Northwest as having serious air quality problems in recent years — a baseline that is likely to worsen when regional fires ignite in earnest.

Air quality information for your area is available in real-time at AirNow.gov. Residents can also sign up for air quality alerts through their county or state environmental agency.