Bear Gulch Fire Growth and Statewide Wildfire Update

Bear Gulch Fire Grows Significantly

Yesterday evening, the Bear Gulch Fire grew significantly, producing dramatic images while sending a smoke plume northward. The fire spread was driven by warm, dry conditions and strong easterly winds, with the majority of the fire growth occurring to the north.

Satellite imagery from yesterday evening showing smoke plumes from the Bear Gulch as well as fires in Central Washington. GOES-West 17Sep2025 00:41Z

The plume impacted surface air quality in Port Angeles for several hours and contributed to vibrant sunsets elsewhere in the region.

PM2.5 concentrations measured at Port Angeles yesterday and this morning. Data accessed 8am 9/17/2025.

Smoke continues to linger in areas north of the fire (the plume has now reached as far north as Vancouver BC), although onshore flow today should improve air quality. However, smoke will continue to impact communities closest to the fire, and haze will be visible across the Olympic Peninsula. The webcam from Hurricane Ridge showcased the smoke layer this morning:

Visible smoke from the Hurricane Ridge webcam this morning.

Additional air quality monitors in Snohomish County are observing moderate smoke impacts--largely due to the combination of westerly and down-valley flow transporting lingering smoke. These conditions are expected to improve by the end of today, but haze will likely persist aloft. 

Fires in Central and Eastern WA 

• Central Washington: the Lower Sugarloaf and Labor Mountain fires in Central WA continue to exhibit active fire behavior. Smoke transport is trending southeast, continuing to impact Entiat overnight as it pools in valleys, as well as Plain and nearby areas. Cle Elum and communities nearby along I-90 also are currently observing smoke impacts; these impacts should decrease throughout the day.
• Northeast Washington: Containment efforts continue on the slew of fires in Northeast WA and smoke impacts are mostly confined to nearby communities. Inchelium is currently experiencing the heaviest smoke, with reports of "super fog" near the Lynx Mountain Fire. If you're in the area, please use caution while driving.

Outlook

Cooler, more moist conditions, and potential rainfall this weekend should help moderate fire behavior and improve smoke conditions across the region. Further out, the chances for significant rain look promising near the end of the month.