See You Next Year!

Even though wildfire season is over, there may still be smoke visible within fire perimeters due to remaining fuels burning down.

Now that we’ve gotten some rain and even snow in some locations, prescribed burn season is upon us!

Rx Burning in Roslyn, Photo C/O Mason Friedman, WA DNR

What is Prescribed Fire?

Prescribed fire is a tool long used on forest ecosystems throughout Washington by Tribes, land management agencies, and conservation groups. These forests, with their fire-adapted plants, historically had low-intensity fires burn through their understories on a regular basis. These low-severity fires reduced the amount of ladder fuels capable of taking fires up into tree canopies, where they spread much more rapidly than at ground level.

A prescribed fire applies low-severity fire to the forest floor in order to reduce built-up vegetation while helping mature trees stay healthy and resilient. Trained fire professionals follow burn plans guided by state and federal regulations to reduce wildfire fuels on the ground, reintroduce vital nutrients into the soil, and restore natural, fire-adapted habitats for wildlife.

Stay informed!

To get more information about where burning is taking place, visit WA DNR’s Burn Portal or, you can now sign up for notifications to learn about when burns are taking place near your location. 

It's also important to note that it's illegal to burn during burn bans. For more information on when and where these are in place, visit the Washington Department of Ecology or your local clean air agency.

The purpose of this blog is to provide information related to wildfire smoke. For more information on prescribed burns and smoke resources, visit: https://dnr.wa.gov/wildfire-resources/smoke-resources

**This is the final post for 2025, but we hope you will bookmark us and return for wildfire smoke updates next summer. We appreciate your interest and feedback. Breathe well Washington!

2025 wildfire season: air quality in review

Monitoring sites in the Wenatchee area are still observing lingering impacts from the Labor Mountain Fire, but with recent rain and cooler weather, wildfire season is winding down. It's a good time to look back at this year's wildfire season from an air quality perspective.

Statewide Overview

In terms of the number of smoke-impacted days, this season began quietly. Up until mid-August, there were very few days with elevated PM2.5 concentrations, based on data from 133 air quality monitors tracking PM2.5 across the state (note that monitoring sites do not cover every location in the state and some areas experienced worse smoke than what is captured by the statewide monitoring network). Early season smoke impacts were localized, primarily from the Bear Gulch Fire near Lake Cushman and the Pomas Fire northwest of Entiat.

Conditions changed quickly at the end of August, when a combination of lightning-sparked wildfires, hot and dry weather, and light winds led to an increase in unhealthy air quality days across Central and Eastern Washington. Overall, the 2025 season ended up resembling 2021 and 2022 more than the relatively smoke-free 2024.

Total number of USG or worse air quality days observed by air quality monitors over the last decade.

While no region was entirely free from smoke, Central Washington experienced the most sustained impacts this season. The Wildcat, Lower Sugarloaf, and Labor Mountain Fires were the primary contributors. Although the Pomas Fire started early in the season, it had minimal impacts on air quality compared with the larger, more smoke-producing fires. Northeast WA also experienced prolonged smoke impacts from numerous regional fires in September. Southeast WA dodged most of the heaviest smoke but still experienced occasional impacts from smoke drifting into the region. Western WA (more below!) experienced intermittent periods of smoke from regional fires when shifting winds carried smoke towards the Puget Sound and NW WA.

Total number of USG or worse air quality days observed by air quality monitors this summer, sorted by region.

To better illustrate the timing of smoke impacts this summer, the plot below shows daily air quality levels for each county in the Washington with an air quality monitor. Each row represents the daily average from the most impacted monitor in that county, with counties organized by geographic region. Aside from localized impacts at Lake Cushman, most of the state experienced good and moderate air quality for most of the summer until fire activity drastically ramped up at the end of August and into September.

Daily air quality index levels for each county in WA this summer. Temporary monitoring at Lake Cushman is also included.

The Bear Gulch Fire

The 2025 perimeter of the Bear Gulch Fire (pink) compared to previous fires in 2006 (blue) and 1979 (green). 

The Bear Gulch Fire near Lake Cushman created an unusual smoke season for western Washington. The fire, started by human activity on July 6, frequently caused poor air quality in communities along the Hood Canal and in Mason County throughout July, August, and September. Between September 14th and September 20th, the fire nearly doubled in size growing from 10,851 acres to 19,092 acres. This rapid growth caused several hours of unhealthy air in Port Angeles on September 16th & 17th and in Mason and Thurston Counties September 19th & 20th.  At just over 20,000 acres, the Bear Gulch Fire holds the record as the largest wildfire in the Olympic National Park (ONP) since its establishment in 1938, breaking the previous record of 1,175 acres. Between 1985 and 2024, roughly 900 recorded wildfires burned a total of 4,300 acres in the ONP. Major fires in the Olympics typically burn between 10 and 500 acres. While they often smolder for several weeks, rarely do they generate significant smoke impacts beyond the immediate vicinity. The Bear Gulch Fire produced multiple pyrocumulus clouds, hazy skies, and even a visible smoke plume that stretched across the state on August 13th. The first wetting rains fell over Bear Gulch in early October and continuing showers have dramatically slowed fire growth and smoke production. All evacuation orders have been lifted, and the US Forest Service has transferred fire management to local units. 

Bear Gulch burn scar from satellite imagery on October 13.

Smoke Update for Central Washington

Wenatchee continues to experience smoke from ongoing activity at the Labor Mountain Fire, which has burned 41,418 acres and is currently 20% contained. Air quality sensors in the valley are reporting UNHEALTHY conditions. In contrast, the Lower Sugarloaf Fire, now at 42,955 acres and 90% contained, is producing less smoke as containment improves.

7 Day AQI for Wenatchee (solid line) and Yakima (dashed line), Department of Ecology 

This weekend, a mix of snow and rain is expected over the Cascade Mountains. The Wildcat Fire area could see 1–2 inches of snow, while Labor Mountain and Lower Sugarloaf are likely to receive less than an inch. Higher relative humidity and moisture may provide some relief to Wenatchee Valley and surrounding areas by dampening fire activity. In Yakima, air quality has steadily improved since Monday. Snow and rain over the Wildcat Fire, along with increased winds and light showers, are expected to further improve air quality through the weekend.

48 snow accumulation (inches) this weekend, and active NIFC fires, NOAA DESI

Air quality alerts for Chelan and Douglas counties have been reinstated until further notice. Another update on the blog will be provided next week as air quality evolves following the wet weather.

Tactical firing operations along Highway 97 near Labor Mountain Fire, Inciweb

Ongoing Smoke Impacts from Active Wildfires

The Lower Sugarloaf, Labor Mountain, and Wildcat Fires continue to burn, producing significant smoke across portions of Central Washington. Air quality is currently unhealthy to hazardous in Wenatchee and Cashmere, with visible smoke extending beyond the immediate fire zones. An Air Quality Alert has been issued for Chelan and Douglas Counties, specifically for communities along the Wenatchee River Corridor (including Cashmere, Wenatchee, East Wenatchee, and Rock Island).

GOES-West satellite imagery this morning (9am).

Communities southeast of the fires--including Quincy, Royal City, and George--are experiencing smoke impacts in addition to the heavy smoke observed in the Wenatchee River Corridor. Smoke from the Wildcat Fire is also settling into the Yakima Valley. Valley drainage patterns are expected to bring another day of smoke accumulation overnight and into the morning, contributing to periods of poor air quality in low-lying areas.

Increased ventilation and mixing will lead to gradual air quality improvements throughout the day, but areas closest to the fires will continue to experience periods of dense smoke. Cle Elum and Ellensburg can also expect periodic smoke impacts. Additionally, proactive burning efforts by firefighters working on containing the Labor Mountain Fire will produce increased smoke in the area. 

Smoke from the Labor Mountain Fire. Source: Watchduty.

Winds are also pushing smoke to the southwest; impacts are increasing at Mt. Rainier and in the Cowlitz Valley. Make sure to check local air quality conditions before recreating today. Light smoke may also reach portions of southwest Washington and the Cascades foothills in Pierce and King Counties. Moderate smoke impacts will likely be brief as shifting winds will push any lingering smoke out of the area tomorrow afternoon.

Outlook

Communities closest to active fires will continue to experience smoke impacts as long as those fires burn. While temperatures are cooling and daylight hours are decreasing, conditions remain very dry across the region. On a hopeful note, potential rain returns later this week. The Labor Mountain, Lower Sugarloaf, and Wildcat Fires all have a chance to receive wetting rain through this weekend. However, rain will be scattered and the locations and rain amounts remain uncertain. We'll continue to keep an eye on conditions and update as needed.

Fire Season Continues in Central Washington

The calendar has flipped to October but wildfires continue to burn in central Washington. 

Rainfall in western Washington was significant and beneficial this week, especially over the Bear Gulch Fire where observations suggest 1-4" of precipitation across the fire footprint. This has allowed fire activity to significantly decrease and all evacuation levels for the fire have been lifted. With the shorter days and cooler temperatures, Bear Gulch may have trouble growing further unless a major weather change occurs in the next few weeks.

East of the Cascades, however, much less rainfall was observed. The Wildcat, Lower Sugarloaf, and Labor Mountain Fires all received some rain, but generally less than 0.50". All three of these fires are still burning and producing smoke, with Lower Sugarloaf and Labor Mountain being the most active. 

Central Washington received a brief reprieve from heavy smoke impacts in the last few days but PM2.5 concentrations are starting to climb back up again. Wenatchee is reporting UNHEALTHY air quality this morning and other nearby monitors in the region are reporting MODERATE to UNHEALTHY FOR SENSITIVE GROUPS. 

Recent air quality index values across central Washington, data via WA Dept of Ecology.

Looking ahead, shifting winds over the weekend into early next week could bring smoke from central WA wildfires into different portions of the state. This is especially true Sunday-Monday when N/NE winds could bring light to moderate amounts of smoke a bit further south and west into the Cascades. It's also possible that very light amounts of smoke could even reach westside communities in SW Washington by Monday, but any smoke reaching that area would likely remain at low concentrations. Onshore winds then return towards the middle of next week which would clear out any minor smoke impacts in western WA. 

Lookout on Division U of the Lower Sugarloaf Fire, Thursday, October 2. Photo by Ranae Pape, Public Information Officer, retrieved via Inciweb. 

The bottom line is that crews continue to make progress on the fires in central WA, but a drier and warmer weather pattern will continue challenging containment efforts through at least the early part of next week. Until we get a more significant weather change in that area, smoke production is likely to continue with occasional air quality impacts in the surrounding communities. 

We'll continue our blog updates until wildfire season ends for good!

Air Quality Improves Across Washington as October Begins

Fall weather has finally arrived! Time to grab a thermos of apple cider and hit the pumpkin patches! The shift in weather has also brought improved air quality across the state.

In Western Washington, conditions remain GOOD this week, thanks to rain from Monday through Tuesday night that helped clear out smoke from the Bear Gulch fire.

 72 hour rain accumulation in inches (9/28-10/01), National Weather Service Weather and Hazards Data Viewer

Eastern Washington has also seen notable improvement over the past two days. Air quality in Cle Elum, Wenatchee, Entiat, Chelan, and nearby areas has improved from UNHEALTHY on Monday to MODERATE to USG levels today. The Methow Valley is holding between GOOD and MODERATE. With these improvements, Air Quality Alerts have been lifted for Chelan and Douglas Counties.

7 Day AQI for Twisp (solid line) and Chelan (dashed line), Dept. of Ecology

7 Day AQI for Entiat (solid line) and Wenatchee (dashed line), Dept. of Ecology

7 Day AQI for Cle Elum (solid line) and Ellensburg (dashed line), Dept of Ecology

Looking ahead, smoke impacts should stay minimal through the rest of the week. However, wildfire season isn’t over yet. Fires along the eastern Cascades have received some rain but remain active: Wildcat (14,316 acres, 6% containment), Labor Mountain (37,238 acres, 7% containment), and Lower Sugarloaf (39,594 acres, 48% containment). We’ll continue to provide updates as smoke conditions change in the coming weeks.

Smoke continues in Central Washington

Air Quality in Central Washington continues to be impacted by the Lower Sugarloaf and Labor Mountain Fires. Firefighting efforts are ongoing, but the rugged terrain of the Okanogan-Wenatchee Forest makes controlling wildfires extremely difficult. Over the weekend, smoke from those fires contributed to periods of poor air quality across Eastern Washington. Adding to the haze was smoke drifting north from Oregon wildfires, as well as additional impacts from the Wildcat Fire. 

Counties observing days of USG or worse air quality over the weekend.

Today's weather shift with increased moisture and cooler temperatures may ease fire activity, but communities closest to the Lower Sugarloaf and Labor Mountain Fires (Wenatchee, Leavenworth, Plain, Entiat, Chelan) will continue to breathe unhealthy air. Cle Elum and Ellensburg can expect conditions ranging from moderate to USG. Southerly to southwesterly winds will also push smoke north into Okanogan County, leading to periods of unhealthy air in the Methow Valley. Air Quality Alerts continue in Chelan and Douglas Counties.

When air quality is unhealthy, follow tips from DOH to protect yourself from wildfire smoke. 

Outside of the immediate fire locations, lingering haze in Eastern Washington should improve throughout the day today.

Rain Outlook

Mean rainfall expected through Thursday morning. NWS.

Beneficial rain in Western WA this week will improve conditions around the Bear Gulch Fire. Smoke impacts in the region should be minimal and even areas closest to the fire (Hoodsport, Lake Cushman) will get a break from the smoke thanks to the rain.

East of the Cascades, daily rain chances continue through Thursday, although precipitation will be scattered. Forecast totals suggest at least some chance of wetting rain on the active fires, with better chances along the western edges of the Lower Sugarloaf and Labor Mountain Fires. While this moisture will help slow fire activity, it's unlikely to fully suppress the fires. A consistent, soaking rain is needed, and unfortunately that does not look likely in the near-term forecast. 

Fire and Smoke Roundup, Rain on the Way!

 

Visible satellite image from Friday morning, courtesy of College of DuPage.

Fire and Smoke Situation Snapshot

Hot, dry, windy conditions on Thursday fueled extreme fire behavior and extensive smoke production on the Labor Mountain Fire near Blewett Pass. With growth of 2,456 acres, the fire now sits at 17,181 acres and 7% containment. 

Also contributing to the smoke east of the Cascades are the Wildcat Fire and Lower Sugarloaf Fire, which have burned 10,058 acres and 31,049 acres, respectively, as of Friday afternoon. 

The Labor Mountain Fire on September 25, 2025. Courtesy: Jonathan Pulley (X/@WhidbeyWXGuy)

Dense smoke was observed near the fires Friday morning with the Air Quality Index reaching Hazardous levels near Entiat and Orondo and Unhealthy conditions have been widespread across Wenatchee.

Further east, Unhealthy conditions were observed in Moses Lake and Spokane. Air quality in Spokane has improved to Moderate. The AQI had been improving in Moses Lake as well but has since risen back to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

Smoke from the Wildcat Fire has also filtered down the Naches Valley and into the Yakima Valley with AQI ranging from Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups.

In Western Washington, air quality has improved considerably, ranging mostly from Good to Moderate at this point. The only exception remains near Lake Cushman as the Bear Gulch Fire has reached the 20,000-acre mark. 

Smoke and Weather Forecast

As we head into the weekend, winds will continue to relax, making it difficult to clear out any residual smoke. Despite the lack of strong winds, the Cascade fires are expected to continue to burn actively due to the continued warmth and poor relative humidity recovery overnight.

Overnight, smoke will drain from the fires down valley, resulting in continued poor air quality in areas like Entiat, Cashmere, Wenatchee, and Naches in the morning hours. A ridge of high pressure will build into the region, further stifling any smoke movement. Air quality should improve each afternoon, especially for areas like Moses Lake that are further away from the fires, but it will be a slow process, and haze will linger over much of eastern Washington.

Expect similar conditions Saturday night with little improvement in air quality, but by the end of the day Sunday, a slow clearing process should begin as southerly winds increase aloft and eventually at the surface.

By late Sunday or early Monday, light showers will begin to move into western Washington as a deepening upper-level low sets up offshore. While little precipitation is expected to cross the Cascades initially, improved relative humidity recovery and a push of southwest winds will help clear out some smoke and reduce fire behavior.

3-day rainfall forecast ending 5:00 a.m. Thursday

Finally, we're keeping an eye on a stronger system sometime Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. Confidence is medium-high for a widespread wetting rain event in western Washington. Lower confidence exists east of the Cascades regarding rain totals, but cooler conditions combined with onshore flow will be good news for air quality across the state.

Air Quality Alerts Continue for Parts of Eastern Washington

 Satellite imagery of smoke over the Cascades this morning, GOES -West

Central Washington

Lower Sugarloaf and Labor Mountain have both seen fire growth since yesterday. Lower Sugarloaf is now at 30,362 acres (27% containment), while Labor Mountain is at 14,724 acres (7% containment). Communities in north-central Washington continue to see escalating smoke impacts from the Cascade fires. Air quality remains very poor today, especially in Chelan and Douglas counties. Chelan, Douglas, and Okanogan counties remain under an Air Quality Alert until further notice. Alerts for Kittitas, Yakima, and Klickitat counties will expire at midnight, as conditions are expected to improve in those areas.

Leavenworth Past 7 Days AQI, Dept. of Ecology

Wenatchee Past 7 Days AQI, Dept. of Ecology

Eastern Washington

The eastern third of Washington is seeing less smoke than central Washington. One exception is the Lynx Mountain Fire (currently 8,979 acres, 56% containment) is sending smoke into the drainages east of the fire. Inchelium is reporting UNHEALTHY to VERY UNHEALTHY air quality this morning, with slight improvement possible by late afternoon as mixing heights increase. Wind shifting westerly tomorrow could increase smoke impacts in eastern WA. 

Spokane Past 7 days AQI, Dept. of Ecology

Smoke over Lynx Mountain Fire today, Credit: Ira Hardy

Western Washington

In western Washington, smoke impacts were most significant in the Cascade foothills and east side communities yesterday, like North Bend. However, places like Darrington are still experiencing UNHEALTHY air quality this morning. The more densely populated portions of Puget Sound such as Seattle and Tacoma only spiked into  MODERATE air quality. King and Snohomish county Air Quality Alerts will expire at noon today, as winds gradually shift from easterly to westerly, helping push smoke out of the region. 

Bear Gulch Fire (19,899 acres and 6% containment) continues to have localized smoke impacts on Lake Cushman and Hoodsport. 

Seattle Past 7 Days AQI, Dept. of Ecology

Darrington Past 7 Days AQI, Dept of Ecology

Looking Ahead...

A dry cold front will move into Washington tomorrow, bringing low relative humidity and breezy conditions to eastern Washington. These fire weather conditions raise concerns for new starts across the Columbia Basin and may also influence ongoing wildfires in the Cascades.

Stay up to date on air quality conditions by checking the Fire and Smoke Map (above post) throughout today and into tomorrow, as smoke impacts could worsen in eastern Washington.

Thursday Fire Weather Watch Info, NWS

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.