Significant fire growth sends smoke across the state

Smoke from the Labor Mountain and Lower Sugarloaf Fires is spreading across Central Washington and the Cascades. Both fires grew significantly yesterday: Labor Mountain is now 11,679 acres (7% contained) and the Lower Sugarloaf has reached 28,387 acres (22% contained). 

Satellite imagery from this morning; GOES-West 23Sept2025 17:26Z

In Central Washington, smoke impacts will continue today, especially along the east slopes of the Cascades. As a result, Air Quality Alerts are in place for Chelan, Douglas, Okanogan, Kittitas, Klickitat, and Yakima Counties. Today, winds from the south will push smoke north into Okanogan County. Low mixing heights will limit daytime dispersion, and smoke will continue to pool overnight in valley communities. Air quality should begin to improve Wednesday afternoon as winds shift to westerly, although improvement may be gradual and smoke impacts are likely to continue in Chelan and Douglas Counties. Also of concern--a dry cold front Thursday is expected to bring strong winds, which will likely increase fire activity and drive smoke eastward across the eastern part of the state.

In Western Washington, easterly winds are transporting smoke across the Cascades and into the foothills. A smoke plume is currently overhead in parts of Snohomish and King Counties. At the surface, air quality is generally moderate. However, the overhead plume is mixing down, leading to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Unhealthy air quality in some areas. It is hard to predict how surface impacts will change throughout the day, so stay up to date by checking the air quality map on this page or the PSCAA air quality map and reading the latest forecast at https://pscleanair.gov. We expect that the smoke will clear out tomorrow when our normal westerly winds return.
 
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has issued an Air Quality Alert for King and Snohomish Counties until noon tomorrow: “Air quality is currently unhealthy for sensitive groups to unhealthy in south and east Snohomish County and north and east King County due to wildfire smoke. Smoke impacts may occur across King and Snohomish Counties over the next day. Air quality in Pierce and Kitsap Counties is expected to remain moderate. Westerly winds should return by Wednesday evening and help clear out the smoke.”

Ceilometer data from Marysville for the past 24 hours showing the smoke plume moving in overhead and beginning to mix down. Source: Puget Sound Clean Air Agency.

Further west, smoke from the Bear Gulch Fire (19,216 acres, 6% contained) will continue to impact nearby Lake Cushman and Hoodsport, with the greatest smoke impacts overnight and into the morning hours.