Several Fires Continue to Cause Smoke Impacts

Air quality concerns are concentrated near active fires, and these smoke impacts are expected to continue through at least the weekend. 

Overview of Active Fires

Statewide fire and smoke conditions captured 9/12/2025. Source: NASA Worldview

• Lower Sugarloaf and Labor Mountain Fires (Chelan County): these fires continue to produce significant smoke in the Entiat Valley and surrounding areas. Downslope winds are transporting smoke daily, and the smoke is accumulating in the valley. This pattern is expected to persist.

Hourly PM2.5 concentrations measured in Entiat over the past week. Source: Ecology, data accessed 10am.

• Northeast WA fires (including the Crown Creek, Lynx Mountain, Katy Creek, Rattlesnake, and Tacoma Creek): Containment has increased on many of these fires due to firefighting efforts, but communities near active fires should expect smoke through the weekend.
• Wildcat Fire: Smoke impacts have decreased, although warm and dry conditions today and tomorrow will sustain fire activity and produce localized smoke. Potential rainfall on Sunday will improve air quality in the area.
• Bear Gulch (Lake Cushman area): Minimal fire growth and reduced activity have helped to improve air quality in the area. Cooler temperatures and increased moisture will continue to moderate fire behavior, although nearby communities may continue to see intermittent smoke. The Tunnel Creek Fire 10 miles west of Quilcene may also contribute to localized smoke impacts. 

Air quality alerts continue in Chelan, Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens Counties. Elsewhere in the state, air quality is expected to range from good to moderate. 

Looking ahead

No widespread wetting rain is expected in the near term. Warm and dry conditions will continue through Saturday, with a slight chance of showers Sunday into Monday. After that brief reprieve, warm and dry weather will likely return middle of next week. Unfortunately, communities closest to active fires should expect ongoing smoke impacts for as long as those fires remain active.