Smoke So Thick It Feels Like Smoking | Seattle News

Seattle News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 4, 2026 · 1m

Wildfire smoke is choking Washington state, with Leavenworth hitting air quality readings over 3,000—equivalent to smoking six cigarettes in an hour. Major fires in Chelan County are fueling the crisis, putting wildland firefighters at extreme risk, with a full shift exposing them to the health toll of four to five packs of cigarettes daily. But relief is on the way: offshore winds will push smoke west through Wednesday, followed by onshore marine air bringing gradual improvement later this week. Stay tuned to air quality updates and protect your health while the skies clear. Listen in…