Wildfire smoke from fires burning across eastern Washington, the northern Cascades, and British Columbia has driven air quality to unhealthy levels at multiple Pacific Northwest monitoring stations this week, prompting health advisories from state and local agencies.

Air quality readings across the region have been volatile and in some areas alarming:

  • Kennewick, WA: Reached an AQI of 193 on September 13, rated Unhealthy, as smoke from active Washington and Pacific Northwest fires settled into the Tri-Cities valley
  • Taholah, WA: 160 AQI on September 16, rated Unhealthy, with wildfire smoke impacting the Washington coast and Olympic Peninsula
  • Seattle: Hit 150 AQI on September 17, rated Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups, as smoke from fires in the northern Cascades and eastern Washington was carried into the Puget Sound basin by shifting winds

Who Is Most at Risk

Health officials emphasize that wildfire smoke is not just an inconvenience — it is a serious respiratory hazard containing fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds. Those most vulnerable include:

  • Children and infants
  • Adults 65 and older
  • Individuals with asthma, COPD, or other lung conditions
  • People with heart disease
  • Pregnant women

What to Do During Smoky Conditions

When AQI levels are elevated, residents are advised to take the following steps:

  • Stay indoors with windows and doors closed
  • Set air conditioning to recirculate indoor air rather than drawing from outside
  • Use air purifiers with HEPA filters if available
  • Wear a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask if outdoor travel is unavoidable — cloth masks do not provide adequate protection from fine smoke particles
  • Limit strenuous outdoor activity
  • Check airnow.gov for real-time AQI data for your location

Smoke Outlook

With the National Interagency Fire Center maintaining the Pacific Northwest at above-normal fire potential through September, and early-fall rains clearing east of the Cascades, smoke events are expected to continue through the rest of the month. Wind direction and mixing height will be the primary factors determining day-to-day air quality across the region.

Residents along the I-5 corridor and in the Puget Sound basin have experienced some of the most widespread smoke impacts, as west-to-east drainage winds periodically reverse and carry smoke from interior fires westward toward urban centers.

For current air quality readings, visit airnow.gov or the Washington Department of Ecology’s air quality map at ecology.wa.gov.