smokey sky over city and smoke coming from a house chimney

Wood smoke is a health hazard during the winter, particularly during certain weather conditions called inversions, which trap smoke from household or other fires creating smoky, hazy conditions. This smoke has been shown to contribute to heart and lung disease, respiratory distress and low birth weight.


Multnomah County is considering a draft ordinance to reduce harmful wood smoke when the problem is most severe. The draft proposal is similar to the policies adopted in other counties and apply only when inversion events create unhealthy air conditions – on average 3 to 5 times per year. The County will hold three public hearings on the proposed ordinance. We welcome your feedback at the outreach events or online at bit.do/woodsmoke.

See flyer for event details:

WoodSmoke_Flyer1 (171.3 KB)