Smoke and Air Quality: What PNW Residents Need to Know as Fire Season Intensifies

As wildfire activity escalates across the Pacific Northwest and smoke from fires in British Columbia drifts southward, air quality is becoming a growing concern for residents of eastern Washington, northeastern Oregon, northern Idaho, and communities along the Cascade foothills.

Current Air Quality Conditions

The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency has reported that air quality in the Spokane area is trending toward AQI-Moderate levels, with forecasters noting that “air pollution levels may start to build Sunday and Monday, with calm, hot weather and reduced ventilation.” The agency specifically cautioned that “during wildfire season, air quality can degrade quickly if wildfire smoke impacts our area.”

Smoke from multiple active fires — including the B&O Fire near Okanogan, the Chelan Hills Fire complex, and fires in British Columbia’s Fraser Canyon area — has the potential to drift into populated valleys in eastern Washington and northern Idaho depending on wind direction.

Cross-Border Smoke from British Columbia

A pair of wildfires burning in the Boston Bar area of British Columbia’s Fraser Canyon sent an orange-tinged blanket of smoke into Kamloops on July 7, 2026. Smoke and ash from those fires have been drifting southward across the border, contributing to reduced visibility and elevated particulate matter readings in parts of northwestern Washington.

The cross-border smoke is a recurring challenge for air quality managers in the PNW, who must coordinate with Environment and Climate Change Canada to track transboundary smoke plumes during active fire periods in British Columbia.

Understanding AQI Categories

Air quality is measured using the Air Quality Index (AQI), which ranges from 0 to 500. During wildfire smoke events, the primary pollutant of concern is fine particulate matter (PM2.5):

0–50 (Good): Air quality is satisfactory; little or no risk.
51–100 (Moderate): Acceptable; unusually sensitive people may be affected.
101–150 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups): Older adults, children, and those with heart or lung disease should reduce outdoor activity.
151–200 (Unhealthy): Everyone may begin to experience health effects; sensitive groups at higher risk.
201–300 (Very Unhealthy): Health alert; everyone should reduce outdoor exertion.
300+ (Hazardous): Health emergency; avoid all outdoor activity.

Protecting Yourself During Smoke Events

Public health officials recommend the following steps when smoke levels rise:

Stay indoors with windows and doors closed when AQI exceeds 100.
Use air conditioning on recirculate mode rather than bringing in outside air.
Consider using air purifiers with HEPA filters in your home.
If you must go outside, wear a properly fitted N95 or KN95 respirator — standard cloth masks offer little protection from smoke particles.
Reduce or eliminate strenuous outdoor activities during smoke events.
Check on vulnerable neighbors, children, and the elderly.

Where to Monitor Air Quality

Residents can track real-time and forecast air quality conditions through several tools: