Wildfire smoke from major fires in eastern Washington and neighboring regions is pushing air quality into unhealthy ranges, with officials urging residents to monitor real-time AQI maps and limit outdoor exposure. Washington residents are waking up to worsening air quality as thick wildfire smoke spreads across much of the state, reducing visibility and pushing Air Quality Index (AQI) readings into unhealthy categories in several communities. State officials say air quality conditions are changing rapidly, making the Washington Department of Ecology's live AQI map one of the most important tools for residents tracking smoke in their communities. Where wildfire smoke is worst in Washington todayThe heaviest smoke has been concentrated across eastern and central Washington, where several monitoring stations have reported air quality ranging from Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy at times. The agency advises residents to: Monitor the live Washington Air Quality Map for local AQI updates.