UPDATE: DEQ adds Hood River county to air advisory for parts of Oregon [Aviso sobre la calidad del aire]
QUICK FACTS
DEQ has added Hood River county to the air advisory
issued on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.
Locations: Crook, Hood River, Jefferson,
Wallowa, and southern Wasco counties
End date: At least Friday afternoon, Aug. 21,
2026
Smoke sources: Multiple wildfires
in Oregon and Washington
** Versión en español estará disponible
próximamente en oregonhumo.org **
The
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, for Crook, Jefferson, Wallowa, and southern Wasco
counties due to smoke from multiple fires in Oregon and Washington.
DEQ
expects the air quality advisory to last until at least Friday, Aug. 21, 2026.
DEQ and partner agencies will continue to monitor smoke in the area.
DEQ
expects intermittent smoke in Deschutes county with the highest concentration
of smoke in Redmond.
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.
Additional resources:
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:
Jennifer Flynt, 503-730-5924, jennifer.flynt@deq.oregon.gov
DEQ: Carisma Sanchez, 971-484-6109, carisma.sanchez@deq.oregon.gov
Night fire acivity