QUICK FACTS
Location: Baker, Crook, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant,
Harney, Hood River, Jackson, Jefferson, Josephine, Klamath, central and eastern
Lane, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa, Wasco, and Wheeler
counties
End date: Until further notice
Smoke source: Multiple wildfires in Oregon and Washington
** Información en español **
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Lane Regional Air Protection Agency issued an air quality advisory Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, due to smoke from multiple wildfires in Oregon and Washington for the following counties:
·
Baker
·
Crook
·
Deschutes
·
Gilliam
·
Grant
·
Harney
·
Hood
River
·
Jackson
·
Jefferson
·
Josephine
·
Klamath
·
central
and eastern Lane
·
Malheur
·
Morrow
·
Sherman
·
Umatilla
·
Union
·
Wallowa
·
Wasco
· Wheeler
The agencies expect the air quality advisory to last until further notice. DEQ and partner agencies will continue to monitor smoke.
DEQ and LRAPA expect intermittent smoke in the Portland metro area (Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington counties), as well as Benton, eastern Douglas, Lake, Linn, Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties.
DEQ also issued an air quality advisory Wednesday morning for ozone, or smog, for the Portland metro area, Salem, Medford-Ashland, Hermiston, and Ontario until 10 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6.
The Washington Southwest Clean Air Agency also extended a smoke and ozone air quality advisory on Wednesday until 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, due to smoke and smog in the Vancouver metro area (Clark County).
Smoke levels can change rapidly depending on weather. Check current conditions on the Oregon Smoke Information Blog, DEQ’s Air Quality Index, or by downloading the free OregonAIR app on your smartphone.
Smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions. People most at risk include infants and young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people.
Protect yourself
and your family when smoke levels are high:
- Stay inside
if possible. Keep windows and doors closed. If it’s
too hot, run air conditioning on recirculate or consider moving to a
cooler location.
- Avoid
strenuous outdoor activity.
- Use high-efficiency
particulate air (HEPA) filters in indoor ventilation systems or portable
air purifiers. Or create your own air purifying
filter by following these instructions.
- Be aware of
smoke in your area and avoid places with the highest levels.
- When
air quality improves to moderate or healthy (yellow or green on the Air
Quality Index), open windows and doors to air out homes and businesses.
- If you have a breathing plan for a medical condition, be sure to follow it and keep any needed medications refilled.
Cloth, dust and surgical masks don’t protect from the
harmful particles in smoke. N95 or P100 respirators approved by NIOSH may offer protection, but they must be properly selected
and worn. Select a NIOSH-approved respirator with a N, R or P alongside the
number 95, 99 or 100. Learn how to put on and use a respirator. Respirators
won’t work for children as they don’t come in children’s sizes. People with heart
or lung conditions should consult their health care provider before wearing a respirator.
· Find a
cleaner air space in your area: Visit 211info.org and search
for “Wildfire Related Clean Air Shelters.” Or call 211 during business hours (8
a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday)
· Learn more about protecting your health during wildfires
Media contacts:
·
DEQ: Chris Varley, 503-933-0514, chris.varley@deq.oregon.gov
·
DEQ: Dylan Darling, 541-600-6119, dylan.darling@deq.oregon.gov
·
SWCAA: Uri
Papish, Vancouver, WA, 360-574-3058, uri@swcleanair.gov
·
LRAPA: Travis Knudsen, 541-736-1056, ext. 217, tknudsen@lrapa-or.gov
A firefighter patrols the fire line on Aug. 3, 2026, in the Rowe Creek Complex of fires near Prineville. Photo by Hannah Schwalbe / Rowe Creek Complex public information officer
###