Wildfire smoke is moving into Whatcom County this week as a high-pressure system settles over western Washington, bringing warm temperatures and northeasterly winds that are pulling haze from eastern Washington fires westward. The county remains under a Stage 2 burn ban that has been in effect since July 17, prohibiting all open burning. Residents in the eastern portions of the county are expected to see the worst air quality impacts, with forecasters warning of orange-level conditions on Tuesday.
The Whatcom County Division of Emergency Management issued its Monday, August 3 daily briefing with the message to prepare for smoke even as the week starts with good air quality in most areas. Smoke was expected to reach the ground from late Monday into Tuesday, following a period of smoke aloft that kept skies hazy but air at ground level relatively acceptable.
What the Forecast Means for Residents
The National Weather Service Seattle office has been tracking the smoke pattern since the weekend. A stable high-pressure ridge is locking in dry, warm conditions across the region through at least mid-week. Temperatures are expected to approach or exceed 80 degrees on Tuesday, and the combination of heat and smoke creates compounding challenges for residents with respiratory conditions.
Air quality forecasters with the Northwest Clean Air Agency, which monitors air quality across Whatcom and Skagit counties, categorize orange-level conditions as "unhealthy for sensitive groups." That classification includes children, older adults, and anyone with asthma, heart disease, or lung conditions. During orange-level events, those groups are advised to limit prolonged outdoor exertion and keep windows closed during the hottest parts of the day.
The county's emergency management briefing noted that the worst air quality will generally be confined to the eastern parts of Whatcom County, closer to the Cascade foothills and the ongoing fires near Ross Lake in the North Cascades. The Border 2 Fire and other blazes in that area remain active, and while the Whatcom County Emergency Operations Center is not currently activated, county staff are monitoring the situation.
For real-time air quality readings, the Whatcom County Health and Community Services department maintains a wildfire smoke page with up-to-date information and links to air quality monitors across the county.
Burn Ban and Fire Danger Levels
The Stage 2 burn ban in Whatcom County, in place since July 17, prohibits all open burning without exception. This includes campfires, yard debris burning, and agricultural burning. The ban applies to unincorporated areas of the county and is stricter than the statewide burn ban issued by Governor Bob Ferguson on August 1, which allows campfires in designated fire rings but prohibits most other outdoor burning.
Because Whatcom County's ban is more restrictive than the state order, the statewide ban does not supersede or change what is already in effect locally. Residents planning any outdoor activities involving fire should be aware that no campfires are permitted anywhere in unincorporated Whatcom County, even in designated fire rings at county parks.
The Washington Department of Natural Resources has set fire danger levels for the area at High for the lowlands and Moderate to High for the Cascades. DNR fire danger ratings help guide decisions about campfire restrictions, recreational access to forested areas, and the deployment of firefighting resources. The High rating for lowlands is notable given that most Whatcom County residents live in or near the lowland areas west of the foothills.
The Washington State Department of Ecology also declared a drought for Whatcom County as of April 8, 2026, which has contributed to the elevated fire risk by drying out vegetation across the region throughout the spring and summer months.
CERT Training Now Open for East Whatcom Residents
Alongside the smoke and fire warnings, the county's emergency management team is announcing an opportunity for residents to build local preparedness capacity. Enrollment is now open for a Community Emergency Response Team basic training course in the eastern part of the county.
The CERT course will meet on Wednesday evenings from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., running from August 5 through September 23, 2026. Classes will be held at the Kendall Fire Station No. 92. Residents interested in enrolling can contact the county by emailing the Division of Emergency Management directly.
CERT training equips community members with basic skills in disaster response, light search and rescue, first aid triage, and team organization. In areas like east Whatcom County, where response times from county emergency services can be longer due to geographic distance, local CERT-trained volunteers play an especially important role during major incidents.
With wildfires now burning near the Ross Lake area in the far eastern portion of the county, the timing of this east-county CERT course is particularly relevant. Residents in communities like Glacier, Maple Falls, and Kendall who want to be better prepared for fire season and other emergencies can find enrollment information through the Whatcom County emergency management page.
Dry weather is expected to continue through the rest of the week and into the weekend, with only a low-confidence chance of light showers returning by Sunday. Anyone with health concerns related to smoke exposure should monitor air quality levels daily and adjust outdoor plans accordingly.
