Aug. 5, 2026: Wildfire Smoke Air Quality Update

The current air quality across Missoula County is Moderate with some sensors reading Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups. See current air quality conditions at Fire.AirNow.Gov.

A northwesterly wind is transporting smoke from the northern half of Washington and southern British Columbia towards western Montana. The Sinlahekin Fire in north central Washington is over 117,000 acres and 9% contained. Three fires further northwest in the Cascade Range, the Ptarmigan Fire (16,000 acres), Border 2 Fire (5,100 acres), and the Luna fire (1,140 acres), although small, have decent plumes of smoke.

Check out regional fire information at Inciweb.wildfire.gov. 

 GOES West satellite imagery

In British Columbia, there are several very large fires including a 264,000 acre fire, a 89,700 acre fire, a 73,000 acre fire, a 41,100 acre fire, and many smaller ones. You can find information about these fires at CIFFC.net.

The Little Giant Fire has grown over 78,000 acres northwest of Wenatchee. Further west, fire activity and acreage growth have decreased and containment has increased to 48% on the 136,000 acre Kaiser Canyon Fire, 35% on the 53,700 acre Modrite Fire, and 42% on the 4,400 acre Bradeen Hill Fire. In the same area, the 5,800 acre Hudspeth Fire and the 4,400 Mitre Rock Fire don’t have any reported containment (this doesn’t necessarily mean there is 0% containment). The Spokane Area Fires have grown to 10,546 acres with at least 700 structures impacted. Again, our thoughts go out to those affected by and helping fight the Spokane Area Fires.

Locally, the Moose Mountain Fire just northwest of Lolo Pass, almost doubled in size yesterday. With the westerly winds, Missoula County will likely experience impacts from this fire. Thankfully, the Elder 1 Fire is at 93% containment but is still smoldering at 1,234 acres.

Even when air quality is Moderate, we should all continue to reduce our exposure to smoke because of the long-term health effects associated with air pollution. Although you may be able to enjoy more time outside doing more strenuous activities, make sure that your indoor time is in a clean indoor air space. When it’s smoky outside, those tiny smoke PM2.5 particulates (particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in size), make their way indoors through windows, doors, outdoor air intakes, and cracks.

Portable air cleaners with a HEPA filter are one of the best available tools to filter smoke out indoors. Read through this guide if you’re looking at air cleaners. If you are a Northwestern Energy residential customer, don’t forget to purchase an Energy Star certified air cleaner and submit this rebate for $100 back.

Mushu, our air quali-kitty, says they help with her asthma during smoke season!