Air quality across the Pacific Northwest is improving as an incoming cold front brings rain and mountain snow to the region, providing relief after one of the smokiest summers on record. However, public health officials are urging residents—especially those with respiratory conditions—to remain vigilant as residual smoke from lingering fire activity and prescribed burns may continue to affect some communities in the coming weeks.

Current Conditions Across the Region

As of this weekend, air quality readings across major Pacific Northwest cities have improved significantly from the hazardous and very unhealthy levels recorded during peak wildfire activity in August and early September. Seattle’s AQI has ranged from the mid-30s to mid-50s in recent days—generally in the “Good” to “Moderate” range—following the pattern of autumn rains washing smoke from the atmosphere.

Spokane, which sits in a bowl-shaped geography that tends to trap smoke during inversions and experienced some of the region’s worst smoke events this summer, has also seen AQI readings return to the “Good” category as prevailing winds have shifted and rainfall has occurred. Eastern Washington communities near active fire areas should remain attentive, however, as morning temperature inversions can still concentrate residual smoke in valley bottoms even when daytime conditions are clear.

Wildfire Smoke Exposure in 2026 Among Highest in Two Decades

The 2026 fire season’s smoke impact extends far beyond the immediate burn areas. Analysts tracking wildfire smoke exposure note that 2026 ranks among the top three years for smoke-related health risk in the past 20 years, driven by the scale and duration of fires across the West. Oregon’s 2.1 million acres burned, combined with large fire complexes in Idaho, Washington, Montana, and California, pushed smoke across the entire western United States and, on several occasions, across the Rocky Mountains into the Central Plains.

Wildfire smoke contains fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that penetrates deep into the lungs and can cause both immediate and long-term health effects. Short-term exposure causes eye and throat irritation, coughing, and aggravated asthma; repeated or heavy exposure is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events, respiratory infections, and may have developmental impacts in children and fetuses.

Prescribed Burns Add Short-Term Smoke

As agencies across Washington ramp up fall prescribed burn programs—including up to 14,026 acres on the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest and WDFW burns in Okanogan County—residents near burn units will see additional smoke on burn days. Land managers emphasize that prescribed burn smoke, while a temporary inconvenience, represents a significantly smaller health burden than smoke from an uncontrolled wildfire burning the same area.

The Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is coordinating prescribed burn timing with the Central Washington Initiative Smoke Pilot program’s air quality modeling tools to minimize impacts in populated communities. Burns will only proceed when dispersion conditions are favorable to limit valley smoke concentrations.

Protecting Yourself During Smoke Events

  • Check your local AQI at AirNow.gov or your state’s air quality agency website before outdoor activities.
  • When AQI exceeds 100 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), limit strenuous outdoor activity if you have asthma, heart disease, or other conditions.
  • Keep windows and doors closed during smoke events; use HVAC systems with high-quality filters where available.
  • N95 or KN95 respirators—when properly fitted—can reduce PM2.5 inhalation significantly during short outdoor exposures in heavy smoke.
  • Consider air purifiers with HEPA filtration for indoor use during extended smoke events.
  • Check on elderly neighbors, children, and others who may need assistance during smoke events.

Fall Recreation: Stay Fire-Safe

The National Interagency Fire Center is reminding outdoor recreationists that fall is no time to let their guard down on fire safety. Hunters, hikers, and campers heading into the backcountry this fall should check local fire restrictions before their trip, ensure trailer chains are properly secured to prevent dragging sparks, and make certain campfires are completely extinguished—cold to the touch—before leaving any campsite. Residual dryness in forests and grasslands from the summer drought means that fire starts remain possible despite autumn weather.