Oregon’s Air Quality Declines as Wildfire Smoke Spreads Across Region

Wildfire smoke has pushed Oregon’s air quality into “unhealthy” and “very unhealthy” zones, with AQI readings as high as 281. The Flat Fire in Central Oregon has burned more than 3,300 acres, prompting evacuations. Residents are advised to limit outdoor exposure, as health risks grow amid worsening smoke conditions.

Oregon’s air quality has plunged into the “unhealthy” and “very unhealthy” ranges as smoke from multiple in-state wildfires, combined with drifting haze from Canada, continues to blanket parts of Central Oregon. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued an air quality alert Friday morning, warning that hazardous conditions could persist through Monday night.

Counties under the advisory include Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson, affecting cities such as Bend, Redmond, Sisters, Madras, and Warm Springs. In Sisters, the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded around 176, considered “unhealthy,” while oregonsmoke.org reported levels as high as 281, putting air conditions into the “very unhealthy” category.

Officials are urging residents to limit outdoor activity and take precautions. Exposure to smoke can cause burning eyes, coughing, runny nose, and difficulty breathing, while vulnerable groups such as children, seniors, and people with heart or lung disease may experience severe complications.

Among the active fires, the Flat Fire west of Culver has expanded rapidly, reaching over 3,300 acres by Friday afternoon with zero containment. The blaze has prompted evacuation orders stretching from Lake Billy Chinook to near Sisters, though the city itself is not currently under evacuation. A shelter has been established at Highland Baptist Church in Redmond for displaced residents.

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The worsening air quality underscores a growing wildfire crisis across the western US, with Oregon facing compounding threats from both local fires and Canadian smoke plumes. Officials continue to monitor conditions closely as firefighting crews work to contain the expanding blazes.