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Wildfire smoke becomes a regular occurrence across Oregon, as residents learn to adapt
opb.org • • nation
Key Points:
- Wildfire smoke continues to blanket most of Oregon due to several fires in the Pacific Northwest, with all but two counties under air quality advisories as of Wednesday afternoon.
- A decade-long trend shows increasing wildfire frequency and smoke exposure across Oregon, driven by climate change factors such as reduced rainfall and hotter summers, leading to longer and earlier wildfire seasons.
- Cities like Bend and Portland have experienced significant increases in unhealthy air days, with Portland seeing five times more unhealthy smoke days since 2016 compared to the previous decade.
- Hazardous air quality levels have forced closures, including Camp Namanu near Mount Hood, which sent campers home early due to unsafe outdoor conditions.
- A predicted wind shift from the west may gradually clear smoke from western Oregon by Thursday night, but eastern parts of the state are expected to experience smoky conditions through the weekend.
