Boiler Bay Beacon
UPDATE 10:30 p.m., 8/5/26 — Levels are green “Good” all across the board according to DEQ, with some iPhone users reporting “Moderate” levels around 50 in the Weather app. National Weather Service is predicting strong offshore winds starting tonight which will push smoke east.
UPDATE 12:00 p.m., 8/5/26— PM2.5 levels hover in an average of 75 for Lincoln County using a variety of sources. This is considered “moderate” with “Good” levels in some places close to the ocean such as Depoe Bay.
UPDATE 6 p.m. — Winds have reportedly picked up in Depoe Bay and Lincoln City. Levels in some areas are still high enough to cause problems for sensitive groups according to private sensors and phones of people in those areas.
Lincoln County is seeing elevated air pollution from wildfire smoke today, with recent readings reaching the Unhealthy range on the Air Quality Index, a level that means everyone may begin to experience health effects while members of sensitive groups face more serious risks.
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and partners have noted intermittent smoke expected in Lincoln County. Official coastal monitors have shown mixed conditions, with some nearby stations in the Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range, while private sensors and models for Lincoln City and Newport have spiked higher into the Unhealthy category as smoke moves in. Levels can change rapidly.
Oregon’s 2026 wildfire season has already burned roughly 2 million acres, with dozens of large fires still active, mostly east of the Cascades. Smoke from those fires, including the Grasshopper Fire near Mount Hood, is being pushed westward by shifting winds, creating haze that is reaching the central coast. Weather forecasts for Lincoln City have been calling out areas of smoke.
An air quality advisory remains in effect until further notice for much of inland Oregon and the Portland metro area. On the coast the impact is described as intermittent, but today’s higher local readings show it is already affecting Lincoln County residents.
Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5 in above data from NWS) that can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. At Unhealthy levels (AQI 151–200), the general public may experience coughing, throat and eye irritation, shortness of breath, or fatigue. Sensitive groups, children, older adults, pregnant people, and anyone with asthma, COPD, heart disease, or other chronic conditions, face higher risks.
What You Can Do
- Limit time outdoors. Avoid strenuous activity, outdoor exercise, and prolonged time outside, especially for children and sensitive individuals.
- Stay indoors with windows and doors closed when smoke is noticeable or AQI is elevated. Use air conditioning on recirculate if available.
- Clean the air inside your home. Run a portable air purifier with a true HEPA filter if you have one. A DIY box-fan + furnace filter setup can also help.
- Masks: Regular cloth or surgical masks do not filter fine smoke particles effectively. A properly fitted NIOSH-approved N95 or P100 respirator offers better short-term protection for necessary outdoor trips, but they must seal well and are not available in children’s sizes. People with heart or lung conditions should consult a doctor first.
- Monitor conditions closely. Check the free OregonAIR app, but it took a long time to load for this reporter at press time.
- Know the scale: Green (Good), Yellow (Moderate), Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), Red (Unhealthy), Purple (Very Unhealthy), Maroon (Hazardous).
- If you need a cleaner air space, call 211 or search 211info.org for wildfire-related clean air shelters.
When air quality improves back into the Good range, open windows to air out homes and buildings.
Smoke impacts on the central coast are expected to remain variable in the near term. Onshore flow later in the week may help clear conditions from west to east, but residents should continue checking local readings rather than relying on a single forecast.
For official information, rely on DEQ, the Oregon Smoke Information Blog, and the National Weather Service.
Make sure you are aware of the air quality. Here on the coast we are usually fortunate to have offshore winds, but when you smell smoke and it’s bad, close it up, turn on the filters and wait for green.