Wildfire Smoke Chokes the Pacific Northwest: Air Quality Alerts Span Oregon, Washington, and Beyond

Smoke from the unprecedented wave of wildfires burning across Oregon and Washington has driven air quality to dangerous levels across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. State environmental agencies have issued a patchwork of advisories covering dozens of counties, and public health officials are urging residents — especially those with asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions — to limit outdoor exposure.

Oregon DEQ Advisories

Oregon’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued an air quality advisory on August 14, 2026 for smoke from multiple wildfires in Oregon and Washington, covering the following counties:

Eastern Clackamas County
Crook County
Hood River County
Jefferson County
Southern Wasco County
Wheeler County

DEQ expects the advisory to remain in effect at least through Monday, August 17, depending on wind and smoke trajectory changes. Portland was briefly ranked among the worst air quality of any major city worldwide in early August as smoke from dozens of fires converged over the Willamette Valley.

Washington State Advisories

Washington’s air quality agency extended advisories for Clark, Cowlitz, Lewis, Skamania, and Wahkiakum counties in the southwest part of the state, while eastern Washington counties near active fires face even more severe conditions. Spokane and surrounding areas have experienced repeated “Unhealthy” and “Very Unhealthy” AQI readings as smoke settles into valleys and inversions trap particulate matter near the surface.

Smoke Reaches California and Beyond

The smoke plumes from PNW fires are not staying in the region. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued advisories in early August as smoke drifted south, warning that “smoky, hazy skies may be visible, the smell of smoke is possible and air quality may become unhealthy at times.” Northern California communities from Redding to the Sacramento Valley have also seen elevated particulate levels on multiple days.

How to Protect Yourself

Public health officials recommend the following steps when smoke is present:

Check AQI before going outside — use AirNow.gov or your local air quality agency website
Stay indoors with windows and doors closed when AQI is Unhealthy (151+) or worse
Use air purifiers with HEPA filters if available; change filters regularly during smoke events
Wear a properly fitted N95 or KN95 mask if you must be outdoors — surgical masks and cloth masks do not filter fine particles
Avoid strenuous outdoor activity during smoke events, even if the air doesn’t smell smoky
Keep medications on hand — those with asthma or COPD should have rescue inhalers accessible
Create a clean room — designate one interior room as a smoke refuge with sealed windows and a portable air cleaner

Vulnerable Populations

Children, older adults, pregnant women, and those with pre-existing heart or lung conditions are most vulnerable to smoke exposure. Public health officials also remind residents that even healthy individuals can experience symptoms — headache, scratchy throat, burning eyes — at Unhealthy levels.