In early August 2026, a series of wildfires in eastern Washington led to a significant deterioration in air quality. These events resulted in unhealthy levels of atmospheric pollution, impacting public health and the daily lives of residents in the region.

The fires caused the destruction of hundreds of structures and triggered mandatory evacuations in the city of Spokane. The scale of the impact underscores the vulnerability of communities to extreme weather events and the need for mitigation and response strategies for natural disasters.