Washington's 2026 Wildfire Season Was the Smokiest on Record for Much of the State

A new air quality review from the Washington State Department of Ecology confirms what many residents already experienced firsthand: the 2026 wildfire season produced the worst smoke exposure in decades for large portions of Washington State, with Central and Northeast Washington bearing the heaviest burden.

Statewide Smoke Impacts

Looking back at air monitoring data collected throughout the summer and early fall, the Ecology department found that most areas of Washington experienced at least one day of air quality rated "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" (USG) or worse — a significant threshold on the Air Quality Index (AQI). Only coastal areas largely escaped, benefiting from onshore marine airflow that kept smoke at bay.

The hardest-hit counties were Chelan and Okanogan in North-Central Washington, which bore the brunt of smoke from the Little Giant Fire and other large fires burning in the Cascades and Eastern Washington. Several counties in Northeastern Washington also logged their highest number of smoke-impacted days in more than 20 years of monitoring records.

Why the Cascades Region Was Hit Hardest

The concentration of smoke in Central and Northeast Washington directly reflected the geography of the season's largest fires. The Little Giant Fire, burning in remote North Cascades terrain, generated smoke plumes that settled into valley communities including Entiat, Chelan, and Wenatchee for extended periods. East winds and valley-trapping effects kept smoke concentrations elevated even on days when fires were not actively running.

Health officials throughout the summer issued repeated air quality advisories, urging residents — especially those with asthma, heart disease, and other chronic conditions — to limit outdoor activity and improve indoor air filtration. Schools in several communities modified recess and outdoor activities during the worst smoke events.

Prescribed Burn Season Starting Now

With wildfire smoke dissipating and fall rains arriving, Washington's land management agencies are transitioning into prescribed burn season. The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) prescribed fire program is scheduling burns for this fall and winter across priority landscapes, focusing on reducing hazardous fuel loads built up over decades of fire suppression.

The public can track upcoming prescribed burns through DNR's burn portal at burnportal.dnr.wa.gov, which includes a calendar of planned burns and a notification sign-up system to alert nearby residents when burns are scheduled. Prescribed burns produce their own smoke, which can affect air quality in localized areas — particularly in the evenings when smoke settles into low-lying terrain.

Tips for Protecting Yourself During Smoke Events

Monitor local air quality at airqualitymap.ecology.wa.gov
Keep windows and doors closed when smoke is heavy; use HVAC systems with clean filters
Avoid strenuous outdoor activity on unhealthy air quality days
Use N95 masks if you must be outdoors in smoky conditions
Sensitive individuals — including children, the elderly, and those with chronic respiratory or heart conditions — should follow medical guidance during prolonged smoke events

Looking Ahead

The Washington Smoke Blog (wasmoke.blogspot.com) serves as a public resource for seasonal smoke information and will resume regular updates in June 2027 as fire season approaches. Residents can also bookmark the Ecology Department's smoke and fire health resources for future reference.