Smoke from dozens of active wildfires is blanketing large portions of Oregon and Washington, prompting health advisories from air quality agencies and raising serious concerns for vulnerable populations. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has extended and expanded its air quality advisory to cover nearly half the state, while Spokane-area residents are contending with smoke driven by multiple Washington fires.

Oregon: Advisory Covers Nearly Half the State

The Oregon DEQ issued a broad air quality advisory that was extended and expanded on July 20, 2026, as wildfire season kicked into high gear statewide. The advisory covers Umatilla, Union, Crook, Gilliam, and Deschutes counties. Additional smog advisories have been issued for the Salem and Portland metro areas as well as Hermiston and Ontario, as smoke combined with stagnant, hot air is causing particulate levels to reach unhealthy and hazardous thresholds.

Bend, at the epicenter of some of the most active fire complexes in the state, has seen air quality pushed to hazardous levels — the highest tier on the Air Quality Index (AQI). Oregon Smoke Information (oregonsmoke.org) is being updated regularly with current conditions and short-range smoke forecasts.

Spokane Region and Eastern Washington

The Spokane area and northeastern Washington have also experienced impaired and hazardous air quality conditions, primarily driven by heavy smoke output from the Kaiser Canyon, Modrite, and Lyons Ferry fires burning to the west and northwest. The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency has issued advisories urging residents to limit outdoor physical activity, especially during afternoon hours when smoke tends to concentrate at ground level in populated valleys.

The Washington Smoke Blog (wasmoke.blogspot.com) noted that 2026 is on pace to be one of the worst wildfire smoke seasons on record for the region, and that smoke events will be a recurring theme through summer. A GOES satellite animation from July 22 shows thick smoke columns merging across central and eastern Washington into the Spokane region.

Health Recommendations

Air quality agencies across the region urge the following precautions during elevated smoke events:

  • Limit all outdoor activity when the AQI exceeds 100 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups). Avoid strenuous outdoor exercise entirely when AQI exceeds 150.
  • Wear an N95 or KN95 respirator if you must be outdoors. Standard cloth masks and surgical masks do not filter fine wildfire particulates effectively.
  • Keep doors and windows closed. Run an air conditioner on recirculation mode, or use a portable air purifier with a HEPA filter.
  • Vulnerable populations — including children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with heart or lung disease — should avoid all outdoor exertion during elevated smoke events and stay indoors as much as possible.
  • Create a designated "clean air shelter" room in your home: seal gaps with wet towels, use a portable air purifier, and limit traffic in and out of the room.
  • Check AQI levels at airnow.gov, oregonsmoke.org, or your county health department website before going outside.

What to Expect This Week

Fire weather forecasters predict that smoke conditions will remain dynamic and could worsen as additional fire activity develops. Isolated thunderstorms forecast for the Cascades and areas east of the mountains could ignite new fires, potentially adding new smoke sources rapidly. Wind shifts associated with approaching weather systems could temporarily improve air quality in some areas while worsening it in others.

Residents are encouraged to monitor oregonsmoke.org, wasmoke.blogspot.com, and the EPA's AirNow (airnow.gov) for the most current conditions in their specific area. Those with medical conditions aggravated by smoke should consult their healthcare provider about additional precautions.