Fire Watch

What to Know About Wildfires in Washington Right Now

Where the fires are burning and what it means for travel, hiking, and Seattle's air quality.

07/16/2025 By Allison Williams

Doused

Is It Time to Give Up the Campfire?

Yep—for the summer, at least. But it's worth it.

07/24/2024 By Allison Williams

Quote Unquote

Hilary Franz Has Her Eye on Public Lands—and Beyond

Washington's commissioner of public lands reimagined wildfire fighting and isn't ruling out a run for higher office.

01/23/2023 By Allison Williams

Fall Wine

What Happens When Smoke Gets in Your Wine

In this era of wildfires, air quality can impact wine quality. Will drinkers notice the difference?

10/10/2022 By Sean P. Sullivan

Climate Change

A Lifeline for Coping with the Smoke

In At Home on an Unruly Planet, Madeline Ostrander lays out models of resilience for reckoning with the climate crisis.

09/22/2022 By Benjamin Cassidy

Timeline

Everything That Happened in Seattle This Year, Non-Covid Edition

Covid-19 masked some major, and not so major, happenings in our city. We've got you covered.

12/29/2020 By Benjamin Cassidy

Curve Queries

Does the Outbreak on UW's Greek Row Raise Our Covid-19 Tally?

And two other nerdy questions about our latest coronavirus uptick.

10/16/2020 By Benjamin Cassidy

Department of Good News

Three Reasons Why Everything Isn’t Totally Terrible Right Now

Promising coronavirus data and other positive developments of late in Seattle.

09/15/2020 By Benjamin Cassidy

Apocalypse Right Now

Where Can You Go When the State Is on Fire?

Blocked highways, closed forests—here's how to plan a weekend during a statewide disaster.

09/10/2020 By Allison Williams

Inferno Year

Seattle Has a New, Old Reason to Stay Home: Wildfire Smoke

Seattle's air quality was worst in the world for at least a brief period yesterday.

09/09/2020 By Benjamin Cassidy

Hot Button Issue

Should Seattle Do More to Protect Citizens from Extreme Summer Weather?

The city has taken steps to protect the most vulnerable, but District 4 council candidates are calling for more immediate, and substantial, action.

07/01/2019 By Philip Kiefer

Burn Notice

Washington’s Wildfire Season Is Starting Earlier and Ending Later

Does that mean another summer of hazy skies for Seattle?

05/29/2019 By Ciara O'Rourke

Quote Unquote

“Every Other Day, I Was a Ball of Tears”

Daniel Lyon, U.S. Forest Service firefighter, reflects on a year of recovery.

08/08/2016 By Matthew Halverson

Camping 101

Should You Build a Campfire?

It's either the most important part of camping or a dangerous menace.

04/27/2016 By Allison Williams

Photo Essay

The Crew

Twenty-four hours with the Pateros Volunteer Fire Department during the deadliest wildfire season in recent Washington state history.

11/04/2015 Photography by David Ryder

Feature

The Carlton Complex Fire: A Harvest of Ashes

What happened when what was the largest wildfire in Washington state history collided with one of its oldest orchards?

12/01/2014 By David Laskin

The Explainer

Washington Wildfires: The Flames Rose Higher

The 2014 wildfire season is off to a record-breaking start.

08/01/2014 By Matthew Halverson