SPOKANE, Wash. — Wildfires are impacting the air quality across the Inland Northwest.
As of Wednesday at 9:30 p.m. the air quality was moderate.
The National Weather Service tweeted Wednesday the Evans Canyon Fire is active and spreading across the southern portion of Washington, sending smoke to Lewiston. There are also reports of blowing dust near Ritzville.
Smoke, which is likely from the Evans Canyon Fire burning in Yakima County, is mixing down from aloft and should dilute more by Tuesday afternoon, according to NWS.
The Evans Canyon fire is burning 13,000 acres northwest of Naches in Yakima County, according to the Evans Canyon Fire Public Information Officer. It is currently threatening 125 structures, power lines, radio towers and crops, according to the Washington State Fire Marshal.
Any value between 51 and 100 is considered moderate, followed by the unhealthy for some groups, unhealthy, very unhealthy and hazardous ranges. The air quality index is sitting at 109 as of 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Poor air quality is a common issue in Spokane, mainly through August and September with smoke being the main contributor. KREM 2 will continue to monitor air quality across the region and bring updates as they come.
KREM staff members contributed to this report.