As the Pacific Northwest enters what forecasters warn could be a severe 2026 wildfire season, air quality officials and public health agencies are urging residents to prepare now for the smoke impacts that tend to arrive with the summer fire season — often with little warning. AccuWeather meteorologists have specifically noted that smoke from major fires could create air quality concerns far beyond the areas where fires start.

How Wildfire Smoke Affects Air Quality

Wildfire smoke is a complex mixture of gases and fine particles produced when wood and organic material burns. The most significant health concern is fine particulate matter — known as PM2.5 — particles small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Exposure to elevated PM2.5 concentrations is linked to respiratory irritation, aggravated asthma, reduced lung function, cardiovascular stress, and in severe cases, premature death in vulnerable populations.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) is the primary tool used to communicate daily air quality to the public. AQI levels above 100 are considered unhealthy for sensitive groups; above 150, unhealthy for everyone; and above 200, very unhealthy.

Regional Air Quality Monitoring Resources

  • Oregon DEQ AQI Map: deq.oregon.gov/aq
  • Washington Dept. of Ecology Air Quality: ecology.wa.gov/air
  • Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency: spokanecleanair.org
  • AirNow (nationwide): airnow.gov
  • Central Oregon Fire AQI Map: centraloregonfire.org/fire-and-air-quality-maps

Preparing for Smoke Season

Health officials recommend that residents — especially those with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions, as well as children and the elderly — take several steps before fire season intensifies:

  • Obtain a supply of NIOSH-approved N95 respirator masks, which filter fine particles when properly fitted
  • Identify a clean air shelter in your community (often libraries or community centers with filtration)
  • Consider a portable air purifier with a HEPA filter for home use during smoke events
  • Know how to set your vehicle's air system to recirculate cabin air rather than draw from outside
  • Check the AQI before outdoor activities and reduce or postpone strenuous exertion on bad air days

Smoke Can Travel Hundreds of Miles

One of the most underappreciated aspects of wildfire smoke is its geographic reach. Fires burning in Eastern Oregon can blanket Portland and the Willamette Valley within hours under the right wind patterns. Fires in British Columbia or California can push smoke into the Pacific Northwest for days at a time. In 2020 and 2021, Pacific Northwest communities experienced AQI readings above 500 — levels described as "hazardous" and completely off most standard scales.

With the 2026 season forecast to be more active than average, air quality impacts could begin earlier and persist longer than in recent years. Signing up for local air quality alert notifications and bookmarking an AQI monitoring resource is a simple step that can make a significant difference in protecting your health.