14 Washington state wildfires contribute to smoky conditions, poor air quality

Forest fires across the state continue to grow in size, decreasing air quality for those who live in the Puget Sound region and the rest of the Evergreen State.

You’ve probably noticed the smoky haze and the orange sunsets.

The Air Quality Index for Seattle, Bellevue and the Kent Valley on Sunday was rated as “moderate” by the Washington Department of Ecology.

But it is “unhealthy for sensitive groups” in Wenatchee, Moses Lake and Yakima.

In Colville, the air quality is considered “unhealthy”.

A total of 14 fires are still burning across the state.

The largest include the 10,000-acre Bear Gulch fire, near Lake Cushman in the Olympic National Forest, the 10,000-acre Lower Sugarloaf Fire east of Lake Wenatchee, a 13,000-acre fire known as the Rattlesnake Fire near the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, and the 14,000-acre Crown Creek Fire along the upper Columbia River, east of the Colville National Forest.

The Perry Fire, in the North Cascades, west of Ross Lake, has forced the closure of several areas, trails and camps.

Officials are warning of heavy smoke in that area.

North Cascades National Park public affairs officials say fire suppression teams have not been able to use helicopters or planes to battle the flames the last few days, due to smoke and low visibility.

Fire crews on the ground are working to contain the fire, but are being hampered by extremely steep, difficult and rugged terrain.

While there are 14 fires currently burning in Washington state, some are just a few hundred acres.

The larger fires with active firefighting efforts right now include the following areas:

• Bear Gulch Fire – 10,000 acres, 9% contained, Olympic National Forest
• Perry Fire – 1,500 near Highway 20 and Ross Lake in the north Cascades
• Wildcat Fire – 7,500 acres just east of Mount Rainier near Bumping Lake
• Labor Mountain Fire – nearly 2,000 acres north of Cle Elum
• Lower Sugarloaf Fire – 10,000 acres, east of Lake Wenatchee in the Wenatchee National Forest.
• Pomas Fire – 3,500 acres west of Lake Chelan
• Rattlesnake Fire – 13,500 acres, near Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area
• Lynx Mountain – 3,000 acres near Colville Reservation in Ferry County
• Tacoma Creek Fire – 2,700 acres, on the boundary between Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties
• Crown Creek Fire – 14,000 acres, 5% contained, upper Columbia River east of Colville National Forest.