Washington State's Department of Ecology has issued an emergency burn ban covering the entire state, effective through noon on September 30, 2026. The ban prohibits all outdoor burning — including recreational fires, debris burning, and agricultural burns — across Washington's 39 counties as wildfire smoke continues to affect air quality statewide.

Why the Burn Ban Was Issued

Washington is battling 13 active large fires, the most of any state in the nation. With multiple fires burning simultaneously across the Cascades and in Eastern Washington, smoke accumulation has been significant. Adding any new ignition sources — even small recreational burns — risks worsening air quality and potentially sparking new fires in already-stressed landscapes.

The burn ban covers all outdoor burning categories, including:

  • Recreational and campfire burning
  • Agricultural field burning
  • Land clearing burns
  • Debris and slash burning
  • Backyard burn barrels

Violations of the emergency burn ban can result in significant fines. Residents with questions about specific situations should contact their county's clean air agency or the Washington Department of Ecology directly.

Current Smoke Conditions

As of early September, the heaviest smoke impacts in Washington have been concentrated near active wildfires: the Little Giant, Three Queens, and Sisi fires in Central Washington, and smoke transported westward from the Hagen and Paradise fires burning in northeast Oregon's Umatilla National Forest.

Southwest Washington — including Clark and Skamania counties — has seen mostly Moderate air quality (AQI 51–100) due to smoke transport from Oregon fires. West winds expected Tuesday afternoon are forecast to help clear lingering smoke and haze across Western Washington, potentially improving conditions in the Puget Sound corridor.

Health Guidance for Smoke-Affected Communities

When air quality falls into the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups range (AQI 101–150) or worse, public health officials recommend the following precautions:

  • Reduce or eliminate strenuous outdoor exercise
  • Keep windows and doors closed; use air conditioning in recirculation mode
  • Use HEPA air purifiers indoors if available
  • Wear a properly fitted N95 or P100 respirator mask when outdoors is unavoidable
  • Check on elderly neighbors, young children, and people with asthma, heart disease, or other respiratory conditions
  • Use AirNow.gov or the Washington Smoke Blog for real-time air quality readings

Long-Running Smoke Season

This year's smoke season began earlier than usual and has been more persistent than most years in recent memory. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District extended its own air quality advisory for smoke from Pacific Northwest wildfires through early August — an unusual situation reflecting just how far PNW fire smoke has traveled this season.

Fire weather analysts note that cool, moist conditions currently in place across the Northwest are providing temporary relief. However, east wind events — which can return in September and October — remain a concern and could rapidly redevelop smoky conditions if currently active fires are not fully extinguished before the next significant wind event.

Residents are encouraged to check current air quality conditions at AirNow.gov, the Washington Smoke Blog (wasmoke.blogspot.com), and the Oregon Smoke Information blog (oregonsmoke.org) for the most up-to-date forecast and monitoring data.