2025 Local Wildfire Data Indicates Record Ignitions and Lingering Smoke

As the 2025 fire season comes to an end in the area, a synthesis of the statewide statistics has been compiled by a number of organizations to reveal upward trends of ignitions and late-season smoke.

According to the Western Fire Chiefs Association’s (WFCA) website, “Wildfire season in Washington typically starts in May and ends in October. Late rains in spring or early rains in fall can shorten the season.” Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands Dave Upthegrove stated that, although this wildfire season had a slower start, there was a “near-record amount of ignitions across the state,” with the total reaching nearly 1,900 ignitions. Statewide, over 250,000 acres total were burned; however, this number is similar to the number of burned acres in recent years, despite the number of total ignitions being relatively high. “In a typical year, the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fights roughly 900 wildland fires across the state, with approximately 70% occurring in eastern Washington,” according to WFCA’s website. DNR officials said over 28,000 acres were burned as a result of the largest fires of the season, including the Hope, Lake Spokane, Crown Creek and Tacoma Creek fires.

In line with the start of the fire season, the smoke season began slowly as well; however, conditions changed by the beginning of September. According to the Washington State Department of Ecology officials, a mix of lightning-ignited wildfires, high temperatures, dry conditions and light winds resulted in unhealthy air quality across central and eastern Washington. Northeast Washington in particular saw smoke from several fires, affecting the region throughout September.

Department of Ecology officials also said that air quality levels in Stevens and Spokane counties, from the beginning of May to the end of August, were in the “good” and “moderate” range. However, beginning in September, air quality levels rose into the “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” “unhealthy,” and “very unhealthy” categories.

Upthegrove stated, “Last winter, the legislature cut our funding for this critical work by more than half. If we don’t fix this, we’ll see more wildfires and more destructive fires across the state. Moving forward, fully restoring this funding is my top priority.”