9/7/2022 More smoke on the horizon

Yesterday saw minimal fire growth throughout the state and region with calmer winds and lower overnight temps.  As a result, less overnight smoke production occurred.  Monitors are mostly green across the state today, but some near-fire smoke effects are still being seen at Wenatchee Lake, NE Washington (e.g. Pend Oreille county) and in the Lewiston-Clarkston valley.  

The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for all counties east of the Cascades crest.  A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are occurring with a combination of strong winds, low relative humidity, and warm temperatures which can contribute to extreme fire behavior.  It should cool off tomorrow a bit as a cold front moves through, but it will remain windy and we expect another round of heat this weekend.  Winds from the NW will prevail today and tomorrow, but a shift will occur on Friday, with predominant winds expected from the east.

Recent fire activity is shown in the map below, with considerable smoke expected to continue from the North Cascades (WA) and Wallowa Mountains (OR).  For specific wildfire information near you, see the Inciweb map.  We don't expect any smoke impacts in WA from the Wallowa Mountain fires for the next couple days, but they will probably affect SE WA over the weekend.  Smoke from the Cascades fires are expected to impact Western WA on Friday.  Fire activity near Lake Wenatchee has decreased, but prevailing winds will continue to push a little smoke into the greater Wenatchee region today and tomorrow.

If you are impacted by smoke in your area, you can reduce exposure by limiting outside activity, staying inside with cleaner indoor air, finding other clean-air spaces, or wearing an N95 mask.

Recent Fire Activity (9/7/2022)

9/1/2022 Statewide smoke update - More heat and smoke expected

Air quality has deteriorated the past few days in North and Central Washington, with especially active new fire development in the Cascades.  The Wenatchee region and Methow Valley have had the worst air quality lately, with fresh smoke pooling in valleys.  There is also fresh fire activity in NorthEast Washington, with visible smoke North of Spokane.  In general, it should be windy enough this weekend to prevent any long-term build-up of smoke, but smoke impacts will continue to be a problem.

PM2.5 Measurements at Maple Falls, Twisp, Leavenworth, and Wenatchee

Late Friday into Saturday will bring breezy winds, with possible mountain thunderstorms, and the potential for fire spread. Hot, dry conditions will set up ahead of the winds, with Friday set for near-record heat. Temperatures will cool a little over the weekend, but remain above normal.   The expected dynamic weather expected this weekend will give rise to dynamic smoke impacts.  Recently active fire locations are shown below:

Recent fire locations in and around Washington State

Smoke forecasts are not confident during these periods of dynamic weather and new emerging fire growth.  Looking at one member of the Dept. of Ecology HYSPLIT forecasts, we see a few key features that have reasonable confidence:

• Smoke in Central WA should mostly clear out on Friday, but Saturday will bring Moderate to Unhealthy smoke back to the Methow Valley and Wenatchee areas.  Winds should disperse any lingering smoke, but expect to keep smelling smoke on the following days.
• Smoke on Friday in SouthEast WA (e.g. Asotin, Garfield, Columbia, Walla Walla counties) is expected from the fires in the Blue Mountains, this should mostly clear out on Saturday though.
• Inland Western Washington will likely get some lingering smoke from the Cascade fires on Monday, pooling smoke in mountain valleys.  Winds should push that smoke back east though, and shouldn't last long.

HYSPLIT Forecast of Smoke for Labor Day Weekend

The 5-day forecasts available on the Smoke Blog map are automatically updated based on multiple smoke forecasts.  Expect changes in predictions as weather forecasts and new fire locations get ingested into nightly simulations.

You can find resources on how to protect yourself from smoke impacts on the Health Resources tab.

8/23/2022 How to find local smoke outlooks

For the summer wildfire smoke season, we're bringing back the "LOCAL SMOKE OUTLOOKS" tab for our readers to quickly and easily access the custom smoke forecasts prepared by Air Resource Advisors.

Air Resource Advisors are trained to be dispatched to an incident to assist with understanding and predicting smoke impacts on the public and fire personnel. They analyze, summarize, and communicate these impacts to incident teams, air quality regulators, and the public.

Notice the new tab along the top border of the blog content area and click on "LOCAL SMOKE OUTLOOKS" to access the forecasts. Outlooks are available in English and translated into Spanish shortly thereafter.

We're also excited to introduce another new feature to the WASmokeblog. Now, the Local Smoke Outlooks can also be accessed directly from the map. 

If you see a blue box on the map, that means a smoke outlook is available for that area. Click inside the blue box, then click "View the Smoke Outlook" for local information from Airfire.org.

Interested in smoke forecasts prepared for other states?
You can find the full set of smoke outlooks prepared by Air Resource Advisors at this link: https://outlooks.airfire.org/outlook

For more tips on using the map, read our 8/2/2022 post.

#SmokeReady  

#SmokeReadyTogether

8/19/2022 Weekend smoke outlook: A more active weather pattern

Current Situation

AQI values in the "Moderate" category have been established across much of eastern Washington since Wednesday, with AQI's reaching sustained "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" levels in the vicinity of Lake Wenatchee as the Irving Peak and White River fires continue to slowly burn downward in elevation. 

As we head into the weekend, a change in the weather pattern is on the way that should provide relief to most areas outside the Lake Wenatchee/Wenatchee Valley region. The culprit for the smoke impacts to Spokane and other areas of far eastern Washington was light north and northeasterly winds that developed Wednesday under strong high pressure conditions. Our typical westerly winds return today and will last through the weekend into early next week as a series of upper level systems work across the state. 

What does this mean for air quality and smoke intrusions in Washington?

Smoke from the Diamond Watch and Thor fires, burning most of this summer in a remote portion of northeastern Pend Orielle county, will likely be cleared out of Spokane and surrounding areas as stronger westerly and southwesterly winds spread over eastern Washington tonight through Saturday morning. This pattern lasts through the early part of next week before another ridge of high pressure builds back into the region on Tuesday and Wednesday. Similar to this past week, north and northeasterly winds will return to eastern Washington and allow more smoke from the Diamond Watch fire to settle into Spokane and the Columbia Basin on Wednesday and Thursday of next week. 

Smoke from the Irving Peak and White River fires will be influenced by the westerly winds spilling through the Cascade gaps through this weekend, resulting in smoke impacts being confined to Lake Wenatchee and down the Wenatchee Valley. Over the past 48-72 hours, the fire has burned downward in elevation, creating smoke below the nighttime inversion and allowing it to settle into the valleys surrounding the fire. Weather conditions over the weekend will be favorable to reduce the intensity of afternoon burning conditions, limiting smoke production, but with the fire now burning at lower elevations, smoke is more likely to hang around in the Lake Wenatchee and Wenatchee Valley through the weekend. I expect conditions to remain steady for the time being before another round of easterly upslope flow develops in the middle of next week to further trap smoke along the Cascade crest. 

Elsewhere through the weekend, emerging events such as the Wagner Road fire (now at 5500 acres in Whitman County) will continue to cause local drops in air quality, as is noted at Ritzville this afternoon. Thunderstorms this afternoon in the Okanagan and North Cascades will need to be monitored for potential new fire starts. 

The White River and Irving Peak fires had their most active periods of burning on Wednesday as relative humidity values plummeted below 20%, a response to weak easterly upslope flow that established in response to a strong thermal trough over the Cascades and high pressure in the Columbia Basin. This weekend, the Cascades will see a return to the typical westerly flow as a series of storm systems impact western Washington. After some possible showers and thunderstorms on Monday, eastern Washington will see a return to a pattern similar to what we saw Wednesday of this week, potentially starting another round of more active burn conditions. 

Photo of the White River Fire during the active burning period on Wednesday. Courtesy NWCC.

Matthew Dehr

Wildland Fire Meteorologist

Washington DNR 

8/18/2022 Spokane, Darrington, and Wenatchee smoke update

Smoke from the Irving Peak and White River wildfires (NW of Lake Wenatchee) drifted across the Cascades early this morning, with moderate impacts in Darrington and other inland locations in Snohomish county.  That smoke should clear out later today and winds are not expected to carry over any more smoke in the near future.  Residents near Cashmere, Wenatchee, Leavenworth, and Chelan will continue to see moderate to USG smoke impacts over the next few days, as westerly winds will prevail.

Meanwhile, the Diamond Watch wildfire (NE corner of WA) has been sending moderate smoke south into Pend Oreille and Spokane counties.  This may clear up a bit today but Spokane-area residents should expect another moderate smoke push tomorrow morning too.  On Saturday, winds should shift and push Diamond Watch smoke north instead.

At moderate AQI, some people can be especially sensitive to particle pollution and should take steps to protect their health (limit time outside and avoid strenuous outdoor activity). Sensitive groups should watch out for symptoms.

All of the active wildfires in our state are under 1,000 acres, so smoke impacts haven't gotten too bad.  However, there are several new emerging fires from recent lightning strikes.  Plus this weekend will be hot, dry, and gusty.  So, there is potential for new and active fires to grow considerably over the next couple days.   The main risk of new significant fires appears to be in north central Washington.

Don't get beat by the heat over the next few days in Central and Eastern WA!  Hydrate, find shade, and keep cool!

8/16/2022 Make your own filter fan

One easy and affordable way to make your own air cleaner at home is with a box fan and a furnace filter. These “filter fans” can filter out the small particles that are common in wildfire or wood smoke. Particle pollution can lead to a number of immediate and long-term health impacts such as trouble breathing, asthma attacks, and lung and heart disease. Particle pollution is especially dangerous for children, the elderly, and people with sensitive immune systems.

The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency measured air pollution levels in four homes using filter fans. In smaller rooms, with the windows and doors closed, we found up to a 90% reduction in air pollution (1). Other studies have found a similar reduction in air pollution during wildfire smoke events (2).

Photo credit: Adam Petrusky, PSCAA

Supplies and Assembly

• Box fan
• Note: Look for a model with the controls/cords on the top or bottom of the fan. Having controls or cords in the center of the fan makes it hard to put on the filter.
• 20x20x1 inch MERV-13 filter
• Note: FPR 10 and MPR 1900 rated filters are equivalent to MERV-13.
• Assembly: Tape the filter onto the back of the fan.

Important Tips While Using a Filter Fan

Testing by UL found no safety concerns with filter fans. Even so, it is important to follow these instructions:

• Follow the box fan manufacturer’s instructions, which can include: Don't leave children unattended when the fan is in use, don't use an extension cord, don’t use near water, and don't use a damaged or malfunctioning fan.
• If you are using your own fan, make sure it is 2012 or newer. Older models pose a fire risk and should not be used.
• Use the filter fan in the room you spend the most time in.
• Position the filter fan toward the middle of the room, away from walls, drapes, and dusty spaces.
• Close all windows and doors while filter fan is in use. The filter fan won’t be as effective if pollution from outside is coming into the room. However, if it is too hot inside, you can open a window.
• Running the filter fan in a window will result in reduced filtration and make the filter get dirty faster.
• It takes at least 10-15 minutes to clean a small room (15’x15’).
• The filter fan cannot clean an entire large room. If you are in a large room, place the filter fan near you so that it keeps the air around you clean.
• Replace filters after 3 months of use or when they look dirty.

References

1. https://www.pscleanair.gov/525/DIY-Air-Filter
2. https://aaqr.org/articles/aaqr-21-03-tn-0046

8/15/2022 White River fire sending smoke to Wenatchee region

The White River Fire on Wenatchee Ridge, northwest of Lake Wenatchee, has been sending smoke to Leavenworth, Cashmere, and Wenatchee today. Residents in the area should expect continued intermittent smoke throughout the next few days.  Recreationists are advised to stay away from the Wenatchee Ridge area where the White River and Irving Peak Fires are burning. 

See active Chelan emergency info here.  

The White River (516 acres) and Irving Peak (160 acres) fires were ignited by lightning on Friday.  InciWeb provided the following update today:

"Crews on the White River Fire continue to assess and prepare structure protection along Sears Creek Road (FS 6404) and White River Road. Dozers will be working on spur roads off the FS 6404 Road to open and improve access to the fire area. Two aircraft are currently assigned to the incident while other initial attack aircraft are assisting."

"Irving peak fire gained more resources; it is staffed with multiple engines, hand crews, and heavy equipment. Crews focus on scouting potential control lines and begin structure protection along Little Wenatchee Road (FS Road 6500)."

"A Type 2 Incident Management Team has been ordered to manage the White River and Irving Peak Fires."

"Chelan County has issued a Level 3 evacuation (Go Now) for Sears Creek Road, White River Road is at a Level 2 (Be Prepared), and Little Wenatchee Road is at a Level 1 (Stay Alert)."

Fire.Airnow.Gov image of smoke and air quality on Monday afternoon.

8/11/2022 Be ready to protect yourself before the smoke hits (and a forecast on that)

It’s always best to be prepared to protect yourself from wildfire smoke—which seems hard to think about with the quiet season we are having so far. But the gift of a slow start to fire season is more time to buy supplies you may need, which typically sell out once the smoke hits.

Reduce your exposure to wildfire smoke by following these steps:

• Limit outdoor physical activity and take it easy inside.
• Keep indoor air cleaner by:
• Closing windows and doors, unless it is too hot to maintain safe temperatures.
• Not adding to indoor air pollution, such as cigarette smoking or burning candles.
• Filtering indoor air through an HVAC system, HEPA portable air cleaner, or a DIY box fan filter.
• There are technical details involved with all of these options and they
  require supplies, so do your homework.
• Filtering indoor air is the best way to keep you and your family safe.
• You will hear more about how to build a DIY box fan filter from our expert soon.
• Setting air conditioners to re-circulate.
• Seek clean air elsewhere, if the air quality remains poor and it is not possible to keep the air in your home clean or cool.
• If you must be outside, wear a properly fitted, NIOSH-approved particulate respirator, such as an N95 mask.

For more information see the Health Information Tab or visit WA DOH’s Smoke from Fires webpage.

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Bonus smoke forecast from our meteorologist: 

Well over 1,000 lightning strikes have been detected in Washington over the past 48 hours, and with dry and breezy conditions returning this weekend, an uptick in new lightning fires is expected both in the Olympics and the Cascades. Weather conditions west of the Cascades are not conducive to fast fire growth through the weekend, but the same cannot be said for areas east of the Cascades. A new fire 5-10 miles west of Lake Wenatchee was noted this morning after storms exited the region, and there is concern that this fire could grow as the weather becomes drier and breezier this weekend. Smoke from the fire is currently visible on satellite moving north-northwest, but winds are expected to shift over the next 24-48 hours and begin blowing the smoke to the east. At this time, smoke settling in the Puget Lowlands looks unlikely, but areas near Chelan, Wenatchee, and Omak need to monitor fire developments through the weekend. As weather conditions become more conducive to fire growth over the next week, we will be monitoring for those potential smoke impacts and updating this blog as more information becomes available.

8/4/2022 Recent fires sending moderate smoke to parts of central and eastern Washington

Several fires around our state have started to cause moderate smoke impacts in parts of central and eastern Washington. The Keremeos Creek wildfire in BC (north of Oroville) has burned more than 10,000 acres and periodically has been sending smoke to the northern parts of Okanogan, Ferry, and Stevens counties.  Meanwhile the Vantage Highway fire (east of Ellensburg) has also burned more than 10,000 acres, but with minimal smoke impacts.  Two new wildfires also cropped up yesterday: the Cow Canyon fire (over 2,000 acres, southwest of Ellensburg) and the Williams Lake fire (over 3,200 acres, southwest of Spokane County).  If you live somewhere near a wildfire, make sure to check evacuation alerts and protect yourself from smoke impacts.

So far smoke impacts this year have been minimal, and thankfully fire crews have been able to concentrate resources effectively to minimize fire growth.  However, another heat wave is expected next week, so fire growth and new fires will continue to be a concern.

8/2/2022 Quick tips for using the AirNow Fire and Smoke map

Fortunately, this summer has been fairly uneventful for most of the state in regards to wildfire smoke so we thought we’d take a moment and show you some tips on how get the most out of the AirNow Fire and Smoke Map. 

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Zooming in and out 

To zoom in and out simply click on the map and scroll forward or backward with your mouse. You can also drag the map left to right, by clicking and holding as you drag.

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What the icons mean

The map icons show the locations of permanent and temporary air quality monitors and sensors, as well as where the fires and smoke are.

If you click on an icon, you can get more detailed information on air quality and fire incidents. 

For information about data sources, or to add or remove data layers, click the “layers” icon.

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Get the smoke forecast 

Use the blue slider bar to get smoke forecasts for up to 5 days (when available).  

You can click on a specific area (polygon shape) to get more information. 

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ColorVision Assist feature 

A version of the map is available for people with color vision deficiencies. This version uses a modified color scale that makes it easier for some people to distinguish between the colors of the U.S. Air Quality Index (AQI). 

To open the ColorVision Assist layer, click the multi-colored wheel in the upper right hand corner of the map.

Click on the icon again to disable the ColorVision Assist. 

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Get more help 

You can also view the map as a separate webpage. 

For more assistance on using the map features, view the full instructional guide, or click on the white question mark in the upper right hand corner. 

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#SmokeReadyTogether     #SmokeReady

7/26/2022 A heat wave and minor wildfire smoke

The Heat

The last week in July and the first week in August are, on average, the hottest weeks of the year for Washington, and Summer 2022 sure is living up to that billing! Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories cover nearly the entire state, and will remain in effect through Friday evening. Tuesday the 26th will be the hottest day for areas west of the Cascades, where temperatures will climb into the upper 90s across the Puget Lowlands, while areas east of the Cascades will continue warming through Thursday, with many areas reaching 105-110F through the end of the week. Temperatures will struggle to cool down each night this week, exacerbating heat illness among vulnerable populations. Seattle has opened up numerous cooling centers, with cities across the state following suit. 

NWS Heat Risk: Tuesday (left) and Thursday (right)

Minor Wildfire Smoke Intrusions, Low Impact

While Washington has managed to make it through July with below average fire activity, wildfire season is in full swing across much of the western United States. Several large fires in and around Yosemite in east-central California are emitting smoke that may cause some haze in southwest Washington in the coming days. Additionally, the Nohomin Creek fire near Lytton, BC has surpassed 5,000 acres, and smoke was able to ride the Fraser Valley outflow into northwest Washington last night. I anticipate that very little smoke from either region will make it to the surface in Washington, but haze formation in the mid-levels is likely through the end of the week, concentrated in far southwest Washington, and the North Cascades/Okanagan National Forest. Below is a satellite image of the smoke in northwest Washington and a hi-res model forecast depicting total wildfire smoke, nearly all of which is located above 5000ft in altitude. 

  

Air Quality

AQI across the state is generally good, with some Moderate values showing up along the I-5 corridor between Tacoma and Seattle. Strong nighttime temperature inversions under the very hot mid-level ridge are notorious for causing air quality issues, but thankfully western Washington is seeing good ventilation in the afternoons. Of note, no areas under the smoke haze from British Columbia are reporting elevated AQI values, a good sign that the smoke is remaining elevated for the time being. 

Thank you for reading the Washington Smoke Blog! Please leave a comment if you have any questions, concerns, or feedback for the team!

Matthew Dehr

Wildland Fire Meteorologist

7/22/2022 Wildfire season kicks off in Central WA

The Stayman Flats fire southwest of Chelan is Washington’s first large fire of the year. The fire,  reported on Monday, July 18, quickly grew in size over the next several days. The fast moving fire resulted in Level 3 evacuation notices for some residents. As of Thursday, July 21, the fire consumed 1,200 acres of sagebrush and grassland. Thankfully, the fire is now at 80% containment and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) continues to have crews on the fire.

The Stayman Flats fire from earlier this week. Photo from WA DNR.

Washington’s first big fire of the year comes as we approach the hottest week of summer so far. Weather forecasts predict temperatures could soar into triple digits east of the Cascades next week. This extreme heat will continue to dry out the fine fuels (grasses and brush) that feed fast burning fires, like the Stayman Flats fire. Longer burning fuels (think timbered lands) in the mountains will also lose moisture as the summer continues, increasing the chance of larger, prolonged fires.

Although the Stayman Flats fire is the first large fire this summer, we did not see major smoke impacts. Air quality monitors remained in the green in most areas. Overall, smoke remained confined to the immediate area around the southern tip of Lake Chelan. However, the Stayman Flats fire is a good reminder for everyone to be vigilant as the weather warms and summer thunderstorms loom.

Here are some key things to remember:

• Have emergency evacuation plans ready for you and your family.
• Gather the necessary supplies to protect yourself and endure potential smoke events.
• Review the resources and information on the other tabs on this blog.
  You can check out fire activity, health resources, and air quality all on the blog.

Let’s all be safe and prepared as we move into this wildfire season!
#SmokeReadyTogether    #SmokeReady

6/13/2022 - Smoke Ready Week is June 13-17th

Even though we’re seeing a lot of rain this year, summer is quickly approaching and now is the ideal time to prepare for wildfire smoke season.

As we know in the Pacific Northwest, wildfire smoke not only affects your outdoor plans, but it can make it hard to breathe, and cause or worsen existing health problems.

Every year federal, state, and local agencies and Tribes across the region get #SmokeReady to bring you the most current information on how wildfire smoke may impact your summer plans and health through this blog. 

Read more about wildfire prevention, where to find burn ban information, how to monitor air quality, and get smoke forecasts on the Washington Dept. of Ecology’s website.

And then take some time to review the Washington Dept. of Health’s guidance on how to protect yourself and your family’s health from wildfire smoke.

Let's get #SmokeReadyTogether and have a safe and enjoyable summer!

Photo by 13enman on Reddit

End of 2021 wildfire smoke season

 We’ll be back summer 2022

In the meantime, here is some useful information and contacts for your off-season inquiries.

Current air quality conditions

The air monitoring map on this blog displays current data and is active all year long. Mobile users can find it here. For additional monitors, view the Monitoring & Forecasting tab.

Local air quality contacts

Have questions about smoke or air quality issues today? Contact your local clean air agency. Phone numbers, websites, and a printable map are available here. Also view the Contact Information tab for additional county contacts including local health, emergency management, and sheriff’s offices.  

Visit Ecology’s website for more information on air quality burn bans in the winter.

For emergencies, please call 911.

End of Custom Local Smoke Outlooks for 2021 (probably)

For the better part of the summer of 2021, we've had specially trained Air Resource Advisors (ARA's) working somewhere in Washington to create custom, local smoke outlooks for communities near wildfires. Air Resource Advisors are dispatched to incident management teams to help inform communities of current and future smoke impacts. ARA's also work with fire teams on ways to protect fire personnel from smoke, calculate visibility impairment from smoke to advise fire aviation resources of likely times they can fly, advise the public on strategies to minimize their smoke exposure and protect their health, bring in supplemental monitoring instruments, and coordinate with local officials to serve other smoke-related needs in a local area. You can learn more about the Interagency Wildland Fire Air Quality Response Program and ARA's at this link: https://www.wildlandfiresmoke.net/

Temporary monitor installed in Mazama, WA during Cedar Creek fire.

In 2021, five fire teams worked with ARA's in Washington. 

• Cedar Creek/Cub Creek 2/Muckamuck: smoke forecasts for Methow Valley, Okanogan Valley, Pateros, Chelan.
• Summit Trail: smoke forecasts for Colville Reservation, Republic, and Colville.
• Twentyfive Mile: smoke forecasts for Chelan area from Brewster to Leavenworth and Wenatchee.
• Schneider Springs: smoke forecasts for Yakima Valley from Nile to Sunnyside, plus Cle Elum, Ellensburg, and Quincy.
• Lick Creek/Green Ridge: smoke forecasts for SE Washington from Dayton to Clarkston. 

ARA's in Washington in 2021

Recent rains have greatly diminished the amount of smoke coming from these fires and although fire teams are still working to extinguish the fires, we no longer have any Air Resource Advisors working in the state. You may have noticed there was a Local Smoke Outlooks tab added to the set of tabs above which is now hidden but ready to go again if needed whether this year or next. 

Most smoke-impacted areas in Washington during summer 2021

As we await potentially season ending rains this weekend, this may well be our last post for summer 2021. So we focus on the two areas most impacted by smoke in summer 2021: portions of Yakima and Okanogan counties.

Fires in the Methow Valley led to poor air quality in Okanogan county earlier in the season than in previous years. The Schneider Springs fire in western Yakima county has been causing trouble since August 4. Here's a plot of all monitors in each area averaged together on a daily basis. We've included low-cost PurpleAir sensor data by adjusting them with the same correction factor as in the map above. 

To visualize the summer average of PM_2.5 in each of the communities, we constructed an interactive map by fusing satellite data, air quality model data and all available monitoring data. We used the same monitors as above, but only included PurpleAir sensors which reported at least one month of data. More geeky details are available on request.

Click on the image below to view the interactive version. 

Disclaimer: this map is for informational purposes only. It does not establish legal culpability nor should it be used to distinguish air quality differences between your front yard and back yard. 

You can see where the most impacted areas were: right by the fires and all the higher terrain where plumes hit, followed by nearby valleys where smoke drains into. Since these are approximately 3-month averages, they're not directly comparable against the daily and annual federal PM_2.5 standards of 35 and 12µg/m³ respectively. 

Not to trivialize smoke that plagued other parts of the state, but the sad reality people in these two areas faced was worse. 

The Schneider Springs Fire: A closer look

A quick glance at the fire and smoke map at the top of this page reveals that the Yakima region is currently experiencing some of the worst air quality in the state. Since the start of the Schneider Springs Fire on August 3, there have only been six days of good air quality in Yakima County. Compared to the rest of the state since the start of the Schneider Springs Fire, Yakima County has experienced the most days in AQI categories other than good.

 

The animated plot below visualizes the daily PM2.5 values from both regulatory monitors (outlined solid circles) and low-cost sensors (transparent circles, no outline) in Yakima County since the fire began—the size of the circle is related to the daily PM2.5 concentration. Bigger circles = more smoke.

 

How does the air quality compare to the terrible air quality of 2020 as well as previous years? The good news is that there haven’t been any days of hazardous air quality this year. So far this summer looks comparable to the 2018 wildfire season in Yakima County.

 

Unfortunately, the fire is still active, and it is likely that smoke will continue to impact Yakima County. Check out the Smoke Outlooks tab for daily updates, and check out these tips from DOH about protecting your indoor air quality from the smoke outside.

Labor day weekend and beyond: mostly 'all clear' but not everywhere.

We smoke forecasters don't enjoy raining on everyone's parties. This Labor day weekend, we mostly don't have to. 

Thanks to a mixture of clouds, drizzle, normal to just above normal temperatures and wind (hm... sounds like nature is raining on everyone), smoke impacts will be mostly close to the fires. Other areas can expect mostly Good air.  Chances of new fires and fire growth are mostly low. 

But before you pop the champagne cork, see the average of all UW model predictions for 24-hr rain totals, ending 5PM Sunday. Not a lot of rain and it doesn't hit the largest fires. With a dry Monday and Tuesday on tap, that may have to wait until mid week. 

Southern WA Cascades

Smoke from the Schneider Springs fire will continue to affect much of Yakima county through the weekend. The Local Smoke Outlooks tab of this blog has daily updates for areas closer to this fire. Models show a little smoke spilling over into the western foothills of Lewis and Pierce Counties by Monday and Tuesday. Not expecting anything worse than Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups closer to the Cascades of western WA, and that too wont linger much beyond Tuesday. 

Southwest WA including the Vancouver area

By Tuesday, models are suggesting that some Oregon smoke could be transported to the Portland- Vancouver area, potentially leading to air quality that is Moderate or Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. This is not expected to be a prolonged, high-impact event as a wind shift is expected by Wednesday, pushing the smoke further east. Please keep watching the forecast above and plan accordingly. 

Mostly, plan on having a 

Where's the fire? Check the "Local Smoke Outlooks" tab

We know things have been looking a little quiet here on the Washington Smoke Blog in recent days as the fire impacts have become more localized.

Just remember that Air Resource Advisors for the Schneider Springs Fire near Naches and the Twenty-Five Mile Fire near Manson are still providing daily forecasts and analysis for communities near those fires. We've also added temporary air quality monitors in Brewster, Cashmere and Cle Elum to keep a close eye on smoke impacts in those communities. You can find those reports under the "Local Smoke Outlooks" tab. 

And, if broader impacts creep back into the forecast, we'll update the main blog and keep you in the loop. 

Yakima area still smoky but most places in Washington breathing clean air

Most fires in Central and Eastern Washington have seen little growth over the past few days, as the weather has been more mild.  A weather system tracking through the region today will bring more rain over Northeast Washington but it will warm up a bit on Sunday.  Overall air quality in the state has been good with no surprises expected anytime soon.  

However, the Schneider Springs fire in Yakima county has burned 75,000 acres this summer and is still going.  Crews are working hard to contain this fire but it is still active and smoke is a persistent concern for downwind communities.  Westerly wind has generally been pushing smoke east, into the valleys, and as far as the Tri-Cities.  A shift in wind on Saturday will change this pattern for a little while, with smoke expected to linger in the mountains. Expect wind patterns to go back to normal on Sunday.  Check the local smoke outlooks for daily forecasts.

Schneider Springs Fire hotspots (orange) and smoke drifting into Yakima (Friday morning) 

Other active fires in the state have seen low fire activity and little growth, including the Summit Trail fire on the Colville Reservation and the TwentyFive Mile fire near Lake Chelan.  These fires are still producing some minimal smoke which could impact nearby communities intermittently.

Recent fire detects in Washington (8/27/2021)