Wildfire smoke threatens air quality in central and eastern Oregon

PORTLAND, Ore. ( KOIN ) — The air quality in central and eastern Oregon has been declining as fires continue to rage across the state.

As of Thursday morning, the worst air quality in Oregon is near Lakeview, located along the California border, where multiple smaller wildfires are raging. The air quality there is currently considered very unhealthy.

To the northwest of Lakeview, La Pine has the second worst air quality with several wildfires burning in the surrounding forests.

Across the rest of the state, air quality is still good to moderate, but that could change in the coming days.

According to KOIN 6 News Meteorologist Josh Cozart, as we head into the weekend, smoke could start moving its way toward the Portland metro area.

“Portland’s air quality remains good despite an abundance of wildfires burning in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest,” Cozart said. “That could potentially change come Friday as upper air smoke starts to slowly move west.”

Cozart added that even if the smoke does begin moving west, the particles will be high enough that the impact won’t be massive.

“The smoke particulates that could impact the Portland, Vancouver area will be high enough in the atmosphere that the smell of smoke won’t be present. The greatest impacts felt will be red sunrises, sunsets along with moonrises and moonsets,” Cozart said.

Currently, there are 129 fires burning in Oregon and just under 950,000 acres have burned due to wildfires this year according to the State of Oregon Fires and Hotspots Dashboard.

The largest, the Durkee Fire, crossed over 250,000 acres Wednesday.

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