Wildfire smoke becomes a regular occurrence across Oregon, as residents learn to adapt

Wildfire smoke blanketed much of Oregon this week, a result of several fires burning across the Pacific Northwest. All but two counties in Oregon were under some sort of air quality advisory as of Wednesday afternoon. Every city included in the study has seen a large increase in the number of days with unhealthy air. Since 2016, Portland has had five times the number of days with unhealthy smoke, compared to the previous decade. Wildfire smoke contains several different chemicals that can be dangerous to a person’s health, with particles that can easily enter someone’s lungs and bloodstream.