WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Increased wildfire activity has hampered air quality across Washington over the past few years.

That’s according to the American Lung Association’s annual report on pollution and air quality, which looked at data between 2020 and 2022.

Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties all received high marks for daily air quality. Whatcom and Skagit Counties never recorded a single day with high ozone levels during that time, earning them both A grades from the ALA.

But both counties essentially failed when it came to 24-hour particle pollution.

That data is determined based on an area’s smokiest day of the year.

The Northwest Clean Air Agency says that Skagit County received a C grade from the ALA for 24-hour particle pollution, but they note that the county had data collection issues.

They believe that the actual amount of wildfire smoke over the three-year span would’ve resulted in an F grade if data collection was more accurate.