Smelling smoke in Seattle right now? You’re not alone

11:15 PM: Here in West Seattle and in other parts of the city, people are mentioning a strong smell of smoke in the air – in a few places they’ve even called 911 and Seattle Fire’s gone around checking, but no fires so far – theory right now is that the wind kicking up has brought wildfire smoke back this way. Just thought we’d mention it, with so many asking.

11:28 PM: Several people have pointed out that a new fire is burning in Mason County, to the southwest, and that matches more with the wind direction than the Eastern Washington fires.

Pictures of the Skokomish Valley brush fire. pic.twitter.com/O6SMZhX9al

— PIO (@CMFEpio) August 28, 2015

11:42 PM: Last report on that fire in the Skokomish Valley was about 50 acres, per KING 5. Rain is expected by morning, which should help with the firefight as well as the smoke smell here.

AMD August 27, 2015 (11:20 pm)

It smells just as strongly of smoke downtown as it does here in West Seattle and downtown is definitely not on fire.
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Kind of sad that I’m starting to get used to the smoke smell everywhere. :(

wondering August 27, 2015 (11:21 pm)

Thanks for posting this. I came to your blog to see if anyone else was wondering about the smell. Strong here in Morgan junction for awhile.

Raina August 27, 2015 (11:23 pm)

Thanks for posting, we were outside trying to figure out if anyone’s house was on fire. It started suddenly around 10:50 or so and is quite strong.

Darcy August 27, 2015 (11:25 pm)

It smelled even stronger down by Boeing Field. Weird that the smoke from the wildfires would come back this way when the wind is coming from the southwest right now.

C August 27, 2015 (11:27 pm)

There is also a wildfire in Mason County, Shelton area.

WSB August 27, 2015 (11:27 pm)

Thanks, C, several have pointed that out.

Mike August 27, 2015 (11:28 pm)

I’m smelling it really strong here in Rainier Valley/Mt Baker neighborhood (zip 98144).

jonew August 27, 2015 (11:29 pm)

Smelling it in Capitol Hill (from at least bellevue + pine to bellevue + denny) as well.

Marjo August 27, 2015 (11:34 pm)

Very strong in Madrona/Madison Park, right along Lake Washington. I was thinking about calling 9-1-1 — glad I googled and found this first.

Carol S August 27, 2015 (11:34 pm)

Tge smell is pretty bad here in Admiral, too. I came to the WSB to see if there was anything on fire nearby.

Aimee August 27, 2015 (11:38 pm)

Thanks for the update! I was one of the people that texted we could smell it in Highland Park

A&E August 27, 2015 (11:42 pm)

You guys!!! I knew you would know something about it or at least have a theory! Dang WSB.

Rachel August 27, 2015 (11:42 pm)

Yep, smells very strong out here by Magnuson Park too. I didn’t even notice it until I realized that I was getting a headache.

Sara W August 27, 2015 (11:44 pm)

Strong smoke smell in NE Seattle also. I had some fans running to cool down my house and now every room smells like a campfire.

anne August 27, 2015 (11:58 pm)

yes; very strong smell in wedgwood ;(- cant imagine what it’s like to actually be living very close to this fire.. thx for posting about it- was wondering if it was in my hood or not.

Seattleeditor August 28, 2015 (12:01 am)

We live at California and Andover. We smell a very strong smoke smell two or three days a week for months. Sometimes it comes in our windows upstairs so strong our throats get raw and we cough. We have to seal off the windows and fry from the heat. We still can’t track down the source and is driving us insane and likely out of this apt before long. We just thought the heavy smoke smell tonight was that again. Guess not, but whoever out there is burning stuff all the damn time, especially at night, you are choking us with your smoke!

debra August 28, 2015 (12:15 am)

The smell is very strong in West Bellevue too…

whalewatcher August 28, 2015 (6:33 am)

We have had a strong smell of smoke from neighbors’ fire pits. Really bad.

JoB August 28, 2015 (7:42 am)

it was bad enough to wake me from a sound sleep

Lauren August 28, 2015 (8:09 am)

I live in Bellevue and could smell smoke through my open windows around midnight. I wonder if this is what I was getting whiffs of…

Jackie August 28, 2015 (8:12 am)

That explains it!!! I live by Boeing Field, last night it was so bad I had to close the windows…

JayDee August 28, 2015 (8:23 am)

@seattleeditor: Does the smoke smell mainly come in at night from 11 to 1? The fire pits at Alki can put out heavy smoke when the park closes, and maybe if the wind is right it could come your way. I live near Schmitz Park. I’d look for a neighbor with a chiminea or fire pit.

CP August 28, 2015 (9:30 am)

There was a fire behind the South West Pool on Thistle at around 4AM this morning also. shrubs caught fire by tennis courts. It is out now.

WSB August 28, 2015 (9:39 am)

Thanks, CP. Only one engine so it must not have been big. But that was definitely hours after all this. The SFD log also shows a “rubbish fire” on the other side of SWAC area an hour later. Hope this morning’s rain helped things a bit, pending the allegedly big storm heading in tomorrow.

brizone August 28, 2015 (10:15 am)

Was a strong smell of smoke up at the Myrtle Reservoir after about 11pm last night. Thanks for tracking that down! It was so strong and distinct I thought one of my neighbors had lit up a fire pit, though I saw none!

Joan August 28, 2015 (10:33 am)

I live next to Camp Long and was blaming a camp fire for the smell! But then it seemed so extensive, I thought it might be wildfires again. But the sky didn’t seem so smoky. It’s a mystery. Glad it was outside my immediate vicinity too.