When wildfire smoke blanketed the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs community in late July, Oregon State University Extension Service employees moved fast to get air-filter kits into residents’ hands — even when a supply chain hiccup threatened to derail the effort.
Ariel Cowan, OSU Extension regional wildland fire specialist for Central Oregon, had ordered 150 box fans and filters for Warm Springs and Deschutes County after discussions with Nicole Strong, OSU Extension Central Region director, about the need for cleaner indoor air in smoke-affected households. Funding came quickly through the Oregon Disaster Funders Network and the OSU Extension Director’s Fund for Excellence in Extension.
A Relay at Tombstone Pass
When only the filters arrived by July 28 — with no fans — and an outdoor market in Warm Springs just two days away, Extension forester Jenna Deibel sent out an urgent email to colleagues in Corvallis. She needed someone to buy 50 fans and meet her at Tombstone Pass, the midpoint along U.S. Highway 20 through the Cascades, the next morning.
Annie Ingersoll, administrative assistant to OSU College of Forestry Associate Dean Holly Ober, volunteered. She drove to a Corvallis home improvement store, purchased the fans — an unusually large buy that drew curious questions from store staff and fellow shoppers — had them loaded onto a pallet, and drove a Motor Pool truck to the mountain pass where Deibel was waiting.
“The need was there,” Ingersoll said. “Holly gave me the green light, and I was happy to do it.”
How the Kits Work
A box fan paired with a MERV-13 or higher furnace filter can function as a low-cost DIY air purifier, filtering out fine wildfire smoke particles that pose health risks. OSU Extension has promoted the approach in recent fire seasons as an accessible, affordable option for households without central air conditioning or commercial air purifiers.
The kits were made available at the Warm Springs outdoor market and distributed through local Extension networks. N95 masks — rated to filter the fine particulate matter in smoke — were also distributed to community members and agricultural workers in the area.
A Tough Season for Central Oregon
Wildfires have burned more than one million acres across Oregon in 2026, with many of the largest incidents concentrated in Central and Eastern Oregon. Jefferson County was hit particularly hard, with the Round Butte Fire igniting in early August and prompting Level 3 “Go Now” evacuations for some neighborhoods.
OSU Extension offices across the region have served as informal distribution hubs for smoke-related supplies, leveraging their deep roots in local communities to reach residents who might otherwise lack access to protective equipment.
Residents of Jefferson County and Warm Springs seeking air quality supplies, N95 masks, or livestock support resources can contact the OSU Extension Central Oregon office in Redmond at (541) 548-6088.