Widespread smoke, poor air quality forecast across Oregon due to 38 large wildfires

Zach Urness, Salem Statesman Journal
·2 min read
The Falls Fire in eastern Oregon.
The Falls Fire in eastern Oregon.

Widespread smoke and poor air quality is forecast for much of Oregon into the weekend and for an indefinite amount of time due to numerous wildfires burning statewide.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory Friday for southern, eastern and central Oregon counties due to 38 large wildfires burning in Oregon. The massive Park Fire in northern California is also contributing to additional smoke in parts of Oregon.

A westerly wind is forecast to keep most of northwest Oregon largely free of smoke. The rest of the state isn't so lucky.

Oregon has already burned over 900,000 acres during a very active wildfire season.

Air quality Friday afternoon ranged from "hazardous" in Burns and "unhealthy" in John Day, to more moderate across central and southern Oregon.

Places expected to see smoke degrade air quality most from Oregon wildfires

The places smoke is expected to degrade air quality most, according to DEQ, include:

  • Baker County

  • Deschutes County

  • Eastern Lane County

  • Eastern Wheeler County

  • Grant County

  • Harney County

  • Klamath County

  • Lake County

  • Malheur County

The air quality advisory in Lane County is expected to lift Saturday afternoon, but all others remain in effect "until further notice," meaning it's not expected to get better anytime soon.

"Smoke experts will revisit forecasts on Monday and possibly update the advisories," DEQ said.

DEQ also expects intermittent smoke in eastern Douglas, Gilliam, Jackson, Josephine, Morrow, Umatilla, Union and Wallowa counties due to smoke from fires in Oregon.

"Smoke can irritate the eyes and lungs and worsen some medical conditions," DEQ said in a news release. "People most at risk include infants and young children, people with heart or lung disease, older adults and pregnant people."

Ways to protect yourself and your family when smoke levels are high

Here are some ways to 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. Find instructions at bit.ly/4cXwyEa.

  • 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.

Zach Urness has been an outdoors reporter in Oregon for 16 years and is host of the Explore Oregon Podcast. Urness is the author of “Best Hikes with Kids: Oregon” and “Hiking Southern Oregon.” He can be reached at zurness@StatesmanJournal.com or (503) 399-6801. Find him on X at @ZachsORoutdoors.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Oregon wildfires: Widespread smoke, poor air quality forecast