Get used to the hot and moderately smoky conditions that hit the Spokane area on Monday because a red flag warning until Wednesday means that smoke and wildfire concerns aren’t going away.
Smoke from the massive 300,000-acre Bootleg fire in southern Oregon and from smaller fires in southeast Washington rolled into Spokane on Monday, bringing air quality levels to the moderate range, according to Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency.
Based on wind trajectories, the fire is likely why some areas of Spokane on Monday saw ash falling from the sky, said Charlotte Dewey, meteorologist for National Weather Service Spokane. She said falling ash is common with numerous wildfires in the area.
As of 4 p.m. Monday, the National Weather Service had reports of ash in the Eagle Ridge area, while Dewey said meteorologists also observed ash near their office north of Spokane International Airport.