Air Quality

Wildfire smoke from the Garred Road Fire, Lytle Fire, and other active incidents is affecting air quality in eastern Washington and Oregon. Central Oregon has reached EXTREME fire danger. Residents are advised to monitor AirNow.gov and limit outdoor exposure during smoke events.

Smoke from the Upriver and Tule Road fires is affecting air quality in eastern Washington, while Oregon health officials have issued updated guidance for children and youth during smoke events.

Wildfire smoke from multiple eastern Washington fires is affecting air quality across the region. Health officials urge sensitive groups to limit outdoor exposure as AQI levels fluctuate with changing winds.

Wildfire smoke from fires burning across Eastern Washington and Oregon is affecting air quality across the region. Here’s what residents need to know about current conditions and how to protect their health.

Multiple large wildfires burning across eastern Washington are generating significant smoke affecting communities from Yakima to Spokane. Residents are advised to check AirNow.gov for real-time conditions and limit outdoor exposure when air quality is Unhealthy.

Smoke from multiple active fires in eastern Washington and Oregon is affecting air quality across the Columbia Basin and adjacent communities. Health officials urge sensitive groups to limit outdoor exposure as smoke levels fluctuate.

Wildfire smoke from multiple active fires is producing elevated particulate levels across eastern Washington and Oregon. Health officials advise N95 masks for outdoor activities and recommend checking AirNow.gov for current air quality conditions.

The Upriver Fire near Spokane Valley is generating hazardous smoke across the metro area, with air quality expected to deteriorate through Wednesday. Fire weather experts warn that this may be the first of many smoke events across the Pacific Northwest this summer.

Smoke from the Tule, Juniper Dunes, and Twin Sisters fires is affecting air quality across southeastern Washington and neighboring areas. Residents with respiratory conditions are advised to limit outdoor exposure.

As fire season officially begins in Oregon today, fire managers urge residents to act now: know your evacuation zone, create defensible space, harden your home against embers, build a go-bag, and avoid human-caused ignitions.

With an above-normal 2026 wildfire season forecast for the Pacific Northwest, air quality agencies urge residents to prepare now for potential smoke events, including stocking respirators and understanding the AQI scale.

The Oregon Health Authority has updated its guidelines for outdoor youth activities during wildfire smoke events, lowering the AQI thresholds at which camps and sports programs are advised to cancel or modify activities.

Visit Central Oregon has promoted an interactive online smoke map combining real-time air quality data, smoke forecasts, traffic cameras, and wildfire locations — a single resource for residents and visitors planning outdoor activities.

Oregon released updated, stricter air quality guidelines for youth outdoor activities on June 10, providing clear AQI-based thresholds as wildfire smoke season begins across the Pacific Northwest.

A new study in Science found that wildfire smoke has reversed years of U.S. air quality progress by increasing ground-level ozone — posing a growing public health challenge for the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Oregon Health Authority revised its air quality guidance for children and youth, tightening thresholds for outdoor activities during wildfire smoke events based on new evidence that smoke harms kids at lower exposure levels than previously thought.

Oregon Health Authority has updated wildfire smoke guidance to classify all children and youth under 18 as sensitive to smoke, lowering the threshold for reducing outdoor activity. The update comes as the 2026 fire season and associated smoke risk ramps up across the PNW.

Northwest air quality agencies observed Smoke Ready Week to urge residents to prepare for wildfire smoke before fire season peaks. Here is how to protect your health with an above-normal season forecast.

The first week of June was designated Smoke Ready Week by air quality agencies across Washington and Oregon, with officials urging residents to prepare protective gear, stock medications, and understand air quality monitoring tools before fire season peaks.

Oregon and Washington air quality agencies are using National Smoke Ready Week (first week of June) to urge residents to stock N-95 masks, build DIY air purifiers, and weatherize homes before peak fire season.