Category: Wildfire
Wildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: Monday July 20, 2026 at 2:45pm
The current air quality across Missoula County is Good to Moderate. Numerous wildfires continue to burn in Oregon and Washington. Some of the most significant include the Rowe Creek Complex, the Hay Creek Complex, and the Kaiser Canyon Fire. Smoke from these wildfires arrived in Missoula County on Saturday night into Sunday morning. The air […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: July 17, 2026 at 2:30 p.m.
The current air quality across Missoula County is Good to Moderate. We’ve had a solid lucky streak without much smoke, but there’s a good chance for smoky skies to increase on Saturday and Sunday. Numerous significant wildfires are burning in Oregon and Washington that are exhibiting very active fire behavior and producing a lot […]
Read MoreNew Platform for Email Wildfire Smoke Air Quality Updates
Happy July! This summer, the Air Quality Program is transitioning over to a new email platform to send Wildfire Smoke Air Quality Updates. Going forward, if you’re signed up email updates, they will come from [email protected]. To subscribe, email [email protected]. And for the fun of it, here’s an update to get us started for […]
Read MoreIt’s Wildfire Smoke Ready Week! June 8 to 13
Missoula County alongside the whole state of Montana has declared this week, June 8 to 13, as Wildfire Smoke Ready Week! Wildfire Smoke Ready Week is a week to not only educate about the health impacts of wildfire smoke, but also to remind you to prepare now for wildfire smoke later this summer. Check out […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: September 26, 2025 at 10:15 a.m.
Air quality is Moderate to Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups across Missoula County due to smoke from Lower Sugarloaf and Labor Mountain fires in Washington. The smoke rolled in early this morning on westerly transport winds, but this smoke episode should be short-lived, and we will likely see improved air quality this afternoon continuing into Saturday […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: September 8, 2025 at 4:10 p.m.
Air quality is Good to Moderate across Missoula County which is a welcome reprieve from the smoke that resulted in Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Unhealthy air quality Saturday evening and most of Sunday. A southwesterly flow is forecasted for this week which relieves us of smoke transporting south from Canada towards Missoula County, thankfully. […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: September 5, 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Moderate across Missoula County, but more air quality monitors are Yellow (Moderate) than Orange (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) which I’d say is a slight improvement. Still, the smoke is quite noticeable out there and if you’re feeling a little sluggish today or have a headache, sore throat, […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: September 4, 2025 at 2:50 p.m.
Air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups to Moderate across Missoula County. The MT Department of Environmental Quality issued another Air Quality Alert for Missoula County in effect now until 9AM tomorrow (9/5/25) (explained in yesterday’s update). When air quality is Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups or Orange on the Air Quality Index, sensitive groups should […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: September 3, 2025 at 1:45 p.m.
The hotter temperatures have increased wildfire activity immensely and wildfire smoke is spread out across the county resulting in Moderate air quality throughout. This heat wave and high-pressure ridge are peaking this afternoon. Winds are forecasted to shift easterly instead of westerly which should relieve us of the smoke the westerly winds are carrying towards […]
Read MoreWildfire Smoke Air Quality Update: August 29, 2025 at 11:15 a.m.
The wetting rains have really helped damper the fire behavior, and thankfully, minimal smoke made it into Missoula County this past week. Air quality fluctuated between Good and Moderate which is where we are still currently sitting. As far as the fires with the highest chance of sending smoke to the Missoula area, firefighters have […]
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