Air quality alert issued for Whatcom, Skagit Counties

Smoke from eastern WA and BC wildfires has led to a reduction in air quality.

By Dianna Hawryluk August 13, 2026 11:40 am

Small bright sun in a hazy orange sky, suggesting sunset or sunrise. — My Bellingham NowJoe Teehan

BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Smoke from wildfires in eastern Washington and British Columbia is creeping back into our region.

The Northwest Clean Air Agency has issued an air quality alert for Whatcom and Skagit Counties through 9 a.m. Saturday, August 15th. Conditions were listed as “very unhealthy” at Artist Point, “unhealthy” in parts of Maple Falls, and “moderate” for Deming, Acme, and Lynden earlier Thursday.

Anyone sensitive to reduced air quality is advised to stay indoors with windows closed.

The air quality alert comes as wildfires continue to burn in the rural Cascades, including the Border 2 and Ptarmigan fires. The state’s three largest blazes – Sinlahekin, Kaiser Canyon, and Little Giant – have burned a combined total of over 400,000 acres.

Smoke from those fires is the likely culprit for reduced air quality in our region, as winds are coming in from the east.