While the most intense phase of the 2026 wildfire season is drawing to a close in the Pacific Northwest, residents across Oregon and Washington have spent much of the past three months contending with wildfire smoke — a pattern that public health officials say has become a defining feature of summer and early fall in the region.

A Summer of Hazy Skies

Smoke from wildfires across Oregon, Washington, and neighboring British Columbia blanketed the Pacific Northwest repeatedly this season, pushing air quality indexes into the "Unhealthy" and "Very Unhealthy" ranges in cities from Portland and Salem to Spokane and Bend. Eastern Washington and northeastern Oregon saw some of the worst impacts, particularly during the Spokane Complex Fire event in August and during periods of smoke transport from large fires in central Oregon.

Multiple large fires — including the Grasshopper Fire's nearly 94,000-acre burn on the east side of Mount Hood — contributed to smoke events that affected communities well beyond the immediate fire area. Winds and temperature inversions created prolonged smoke episodes in the Columbia River Gorge and surrounding lowlands during peak fire season.

Health Impacts

The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality both issued numerous smoke advisories throughout the 2026 season. Health officials are reminding residents that smoke exposure poses significant risks, particularly for:

  • Children and the elderly
  • Individuals with asthma, COPD, or other respiratory conditions
  • People with cardiovascular disease or diabetes
  • Pregnant women

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) — the primary health hazard in wildfire smoke — can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing or exacerbating respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Researchers have documented increased emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and in extreme cases, premature deaths during extended smoke events.

Current Conditions

With the arrival of a Pacific weather system this weekend, air quality across western Oregon and western Washington is expected to improve markedly as onshore flow clears smoke from the region. Eastern portions of both states may see continued impacts from smoldering active fires before precipitation fully arrives.

Residents in affected areas can monitor current air quality conditions through the following resources:

  • AirNow.gov — the primary federal air quality information portal
  • OregonAIR.org — Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's air monitoring platform
  • Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency (spokanecleanair.org) for eastern Washington
  • Washington State Department of Ecology air quality monitoring network

Protecting Yourself from Smoke

Even as conditions improve, health officials recommend that residents maintain a preparedness kit for future smoke events. This includes N95 or KN95 respirator masks (not cloth masks), portable air purifiers with HEPA filters, and a plan to shelter in air-conditioned spaces during future smoke events. Reducing indoor air infiltration by sealing gaps around doors and windows and setting HVAC systems to recirculate indoor air can also significantly reduce indoor PM2.5 concentrations during smoke events.