DEQ report shows how wildfires impacted air quality in Oregon over the years

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — A new DEQ report shed light on an increase in large wildfires and their impact on air quality over the last decade.

KATU talked with a spokesperson for the agency about the data they use.

"It looks at the data we get each year and looks for how many days were unhealthy for sensitive groups or worse, so you have air quality that's noticeable and causing health effects for people," said Dylan Daring, DEQ Spokesperson.

In 2020, wildfires ripped across Oregon bringing historically bad air quality to the Willamette Valley.

For 75 days total, air across the state was considered unhealthy for sensitive groups (USG).

This past summer the Willamette Valley logged 26 days.

"For the Portland area 2023 was actually a pretty good year, there were very few impacts from wildfire smoke, that said the overall trend over the past decades seeing more smoky days in the Portland metro area," Daring said.

Southwest Oregon was hit the hardest last year with 71 days at or above the USG category in the Air Quality Index.