New Oregon DEQ report shows smoky summer trends continue; Bend had three weeks of unhealthy days last year

PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The latest Smoke Trends report from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality underscores the continuation of the trend of more summertime smoke due to wildfires, with Bend and Central Oregon one of the worst-hit regions.

The report includes the addition of Air Quality Index, or AQI, data from the 2023 wildfire season, which show Central Oregon and Southern Oregon were most impacted by smoke.

• Bend in Deschutes County had 21 days with AQI values that were unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse, including one very unhealthy day and seven unhealthy days.
• Cave Junction in Josephine County had 23 days with AQI values that were unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse, including three hazardous, six very unhealthy and 10 unhealthy days.

More of the Bend findings;

o From 1989 to 2012, Bend only had seven days with AQI values that were USG or worse
from wildfire smoke, or 0.3 days per year.
o From 2013 to 2023, Bend jumped to 83 days with AQI values that were USG or worse,
8.3 days per year. That is a nearly 28-fold increase in days impacted per year between
the two ten-year periods.
o In all, 72 days with AQI values that are USG or worse occurred in Bend from 2017 to
2023.

Visit DEQ’s Wildfire Response web page to see the full report.

The data show increasing days at “unhealthy” or worse levels from wildfire smoke in Oregon starting around 2012, including the record-breaking events of September 2020. The 2023 wildfire season saw substantial smoke impacts from fires in Oregon, including east of Eugene/Springfield in Lane County, near the coast in Curry County, and near the Bull Run Reservoir in Clackamas County.

Smoke from fires in northern California, eastern Washington and Canada also had a significant impact on Oregon communities.

During wildfire season, DEQ partners with local, state and federal agencies to evaluate current and forecasted smoke conditions and issues air quality advisories to alert the public of extended periods of poor air quality. Find air quality advisories on the Oregon Smoke Blog and see the latest AQI information on the OregonAIR app. The app is available in the iPhone App Store and Android Google Play store.