These 20 Cities Are Getting Hit Hard by Smoke From Wildfires

By Evan Comen • September 25, 2025

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While the improvement in air quality since the passage of the Clean Air Act is one of the most significant public health achievements of the last century, recent environmental action is putting those gains under threat. In a recent study, researchers from the University of Chicago revealed that particulate matter pollution from wildfires is reversing decades of progress in air quality.

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Nationwide, several active fires are spreading dangerous smoke to highly populated areas, pushing fine particulate concentrations well above healthy levels. While no amount of particulate matter is safe to breathe, there are more than a dozen cities where the concentration of smoke is greater than 10 micrograms per cubic meter of air. A closer look at the data reveals the cities where wildfires are spreading smoke and making the air dangerous to breathe.

To determine the cities where wildfires are spreading the most smoke, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed raster data on surface level smoke forecasts from the NOAA. Cities were ranked based on average forecast smoke concentration as of September 25, 2025. Only cities with at least 25,000 residents were considered.

20. Sammamish, WA

Photo by Zac Gudakov on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 11.7 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $24.4 billion
Total population: 66,586

19. Federal Way, WA

Photo by Jason Schuller on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 12.3 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $9.6 billion
Total population: 99,614

18. Kent, WA

Photo by William Jacobs on Pexels

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 12.4 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $12.8 billion
Total population: 135,169

17. Salem, OR

Photo by Matthew Holland on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 12.6 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $13.4 billion
Total population: 175,754

16. Issaquah, WA

Photo by Andrew Wang on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 12.7 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $9.3 billion
Total population: 39,400

15. Tacoma, WA

Photo by Jimmy Woo on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 12.9 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $23.4 billion
Total population: 219,234

14. Auburn, WA

Photo by Caleb Riston on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 13.6 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $8.3 billion
Total population: 85,623

13. University Place, WA

Photo by Peter Robbins on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 14.0 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $4.4 billion
Total population: 34,696

12. Puyallup, WA

Photo by Peter Robbins on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 14.6 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $4.2 billion
Total population: 42,610

11. Tumwater, WA

Photo by Peter Robbins on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 14.7 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $2.4 billion
Total population: 25,617

10. Olympia, WA

Photo by Nils Huenerfuerst on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 14.9 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $5.2 billion
Total population: 55,151

9. South Hill, WA

Photo by Malachi Brooks on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 15.1 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $7.4 billion
Total population: 67,835

8. Maple Valley, WA

Photo by Bryan Anderson on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 15.2 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $4.9 billion
Total population: 27,889

7. Graham, WA

Photo by Peter Robbins on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 15.4 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $4.1 billion
Total population: 34,778

6. Lacey, WA

Photo by Peter Robbins on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 15.5 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $5.0 billion
Total population: 56,263

5. Parkland, WA

Photo by fr0ggy5 on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 15.8 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $2.7 billion
Total population: 39,398

4. Spanaway, WA

Photo by fr0ggy5 on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 16.0 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $3.0 billion
Total population: 34,015

3. Lakewood, WA

Photo by Peter Robbins on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 16.2 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $5.2 billion
Total population: 63,142

2. Corvallis, OR

Photo by Porter Raab on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 20.1 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $4.3 billion
Total population: 60,050

1. Albany, OR

Photo by Matt Busse on Unsplash

Forecast smoke concentration in next 48 hours: 20.8 µg/m³
Total value of all homes: $4.2 billion
Total population: 56,348

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