Oregon DEQ 2025 Wildfire Smoke Trends Report

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Published March 12th, 2026

Detected March 17th, 2026

Summary

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has released its 2025 Wildfire Smoke Trends Report. The report indicates that while the 2025 wildfire season had minimal air quality impacts compared to recent years, the long-term trend shows increasing wildfire smoke days across the state.

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What changed

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has published its 2025 Wildfire Smoke Trends Report, detailing the impact of wildfire smoke on air quality across the state for the 2025 season. The report highlights that the 2025 season saw fewer days with unhealthy air quality compared to previous years, largely due to fires occurring away from populated areas and a cooler, wetter summer. However, the report emphasizes a significant long-term trend of increasing wildfire smoke days over the past decade, with data showing substantial percentage increases in unhealthy air quality days in cities like Bend, Klamath Falls, Medford, La Grande, and Portland when comparing the 2013-2025 period to 2000-2012.

This report serves as an informational notice for public health authorities and the public regarding air quality trends. While the 2025 season itself was less severe, the DEQ uses this data to inform preparedness for future wildfire seasons, noting the ongoing trend of earlier and longer wildfire seasons. Regulated entities and the public should be aware of these long-term trends and the potential for future air quality impacts, particularly for sensitive groups. No immediate compliance actions are mandated by this report, but it underscores the importance of monitoring air quality advisories issued by the DEQ.

Source document (simplified)

Press Release · March 12, 2026 The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality Releases the 2025 Wildfire Smoke Trends Report

STATEWIDE, Ore. – Today the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality released the 2025 Wildfire Trends Report, which measures how particulate matter from the 2025 wildfire season affected air quality across the state. Many of the large fires during the 2025 wildfire season (June 1-October 25) occurred far away from populated areas, resulting in a small number of days that registered as “Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups” or higher on the Air Quality Index for most of the state.

“The air quality effects from the 2025 wildfire season were minimal compared to the trends we’ve seen during the last 10 years,” explained Oregon DEQ Air Quality Administrator Ali Mirzakhalili. “It was a cooler and wetter summer, and the fires were not close to cities and towns where we have our air quality monitors. Nevertheless, the overall trend in the data during the past 10 years is clear in this report. Wildfire seasons have been starting earlier and lasting longer, causing more smoke-filled days for Oregonians to navigate. Furthermore, with the small amount of snow we’ve seen so far this winter, we need to be prepared for a 2026 wildfire season that realigns with these trends.”

The 2025 wildfire season stands out as a year with fewer days registering as unhealthy for sensitive groups on the air quality index across all parts of Oregon. Only two days hit this level in Bend, one in Klamath Falls, one in Medford and none in La Grande or Portland. None of these locations had any days with air quality that was higher than unhealthy for sensitive groups during the 2025 wildfire season.

Importantly, the long-term trend shows a significant increase in the number of days registering as unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse. In this report, we can compare data from two twelve-year cycles, 2000-2012, and 2013-2025 to investigate the longer-term trends occurring in the following parts of the state:

Bend: From 2013 to 2025, Bend recorded 101 days with AQI values at USG or worse, compared to six days from 2000-2012; more than a 1,500 percent increase compared to the previous 12 years.

Klamath Falls: From 2013 to 2025, Klamath Falls registered 153 days with AQI values that were USG or worse, compared with 33 days between 2000-2012; more than a 300 percent increase compared to the previous period.

Medford: From 2013 to 2025, Medford had 143 days with AQI values that were USG or worse, compared with 22 days between 2000-2012; more than a 500 percent increase compared to the previous period.

La Grande: From 2013 to 2025, La Grande had 35 days with AQI values that were USG or higher, compared with eight days between 2000-2012; more than a 300 percent increase compared to the previous period.

Portland: From 2013-2025, Portland registered 29 days with AQI values of USG or higher, compared with only three days on record before 2013; more than an 800 percent increase compared with the previous period.

DEQ issues wildfire smoke advisories when smoke will be unhealthy for sensitive groups for 24 hours or more, so people in Oregon can take actions to protect their health. Wildfire smoke emits a wide variety of pollutants. According to the Oregon Health Authority’s publication, Wildfire Smoke and Your Health, particulate matter may represent the greatest health concern since it can be inhaled deeply into the lungs and may reach the bloodstream. Volatile organic compounds can cause symptoms, such as watery eyes, respiratory tract irritation and headaches.

About The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality protects human health and the environment by controlling air and water pollution, reducing the impacts of manufactured products and cleaning up contaminated properties. DEQ engages the public in decision-making and helps communities solve problems in ways that are economically and environmentally sustainable.

For Media Inquiries Only:
Chris Varley, DEQ public affairs specialist, chris.varley@deq.oregon.gov. 503.933.0514

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