Wildfire Smoke Blankets Eastern Oregon and Washington as Holiday Weekend Fires Flare

A cluster of new wildfires ignited across the Pacific Northwest during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, and the smoke they are generating is now a public health concern for communities across eastern Oregon and Washington. The Chelan Hills Fire in Douglas County, the North Cayuse Fire near Pendleton, and the Antelope Creek Fire near Antelope, Oregon are all producing visible smoke plumes that are affecting air quality in downwind communities.

Current Conditions

Smoke from the Chelan Hills Fire has been reported across the Columbia Basin and north-central Washington. The North Cayuse Fire is producing visible smoke over the Blue Mountains and the Pendleton area. The Antelope Creek Fire is affecting air quality in Wasco County and possibly into Sherman and Gilliam counties depending on wind direction.

The National Interagency Fire Center noted on July 5 that "our greatest shared resource is the air that we breathe" and that smoke can affect communities hundreds of miles away from active wildfires. NIFC is directing the public to fire.airnow.gov as the primary resource for monitoring air quality and understanding where smoke impacts may be coming from.

Health Impacts of Wildfire Smoke

Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5) — tiny particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Short-term exposure can cause eye and throat irritation, coughing, and shortness of breath. Longer or heavier exposures are associated with aggravation of asthma, reduced lung function, cardiovascular stress, and — for pregnant women — increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight.

The 2026 wildfire season has already documented health effects from elevated PM2.5 across the West, with the season tracking at roughly double the normal acreage at this point in the year.

Who Is Most at Risk

People with asthma, COPD, or other respiratory conditions
People with heart disease or cardiovascular conditions
Older adults
Children and teenagers
Pregnant women
People who work outdoors

How to Protect Yourself

Health officials recommend the following steps when wildfire smoke is in the air:

Stay indoors with windows and doors closed when smoke is heavy
Run your HVAC system on recirculate mode rather than bringing in outside air
Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter indoors. A DIY box fan filter using a MERV-13 furnace filter (Corsi-Rosenthal box) can reduce indoor PM2.5 by up to 80 percent and costs $20–$50 to build
Wear an N95 mask outdoors if you must go outside during heavy smoke
Avoid strenuous activity outdoors when air quality is Unhealthy or worse
Monitor air quality at fire.airnow.gov — the site shows real-time AQI readings and smoke forecasts

Resources

Central Oregon Fire Information (centraloregonfire.org) serves as a centralized resource for wildfire smoke, air quality, and community health information for residents of central Oregon. The Washington Department of Ecology's air quality monitoring network provides real-time data for Washington communities at ecology.wa.gov.