Tracking Smoke, Funding Safety
U.S. DOE Unveils Nationwide Wildfire Smoke Map; Washington Homeowners Access Mitigation Cost Guide
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Key Points
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Satellite analysts said the remnant smoke layer off the southeastern U.S. Atlantic coast is “likely due to widespread agricultural burning across the southeastern CONUS,” along with lingering smoke that had persisted for about a week.
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In Washington/Oregon, the imagery tied the Washington portion to the “4170 Tule Rd Fire,” with smoke observed “drifting northeastward” and another light-to-moderate plume “drifting toward the northwest,” before affecting nearby areas.
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The smoke reaching the Atlantic from the Bahamas was specifically linked to “Little Abaco, Bahamas,” where a fire produced “light-to-moderate smoke” that moved northeast into the Atlantic Ocean.
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Blue Pine Fuels said Washington has a dedicated funding stream for mitigation: the “Wildfire Resilience Account,” created by “House Bill 1168,” was described as committing “$500 million over eight years.”
The U.S. Department of Energy has released an updated nationwide wildfire smoke map, tracking plumes from fires burning across Washington, the Southeast, Mexico, and as far as the Bahamas. Reporter News reported that satellite analysts identified a large remnant smoke layer stretching off the Atlantic coast, calling it "likely due to widespread agricultural burning across the southeastern CONUS."
The smoke picture is complex. The Ledger noted that at the same time, the 4170 Tule Rd Fire in southern Washington was pushing smoke northeast, while separate plumes from eastern Saskatchewan and fires in Mexico drifted south into the Pacific. As of mid-June 2026, roughly 2.4 million acres have burned in the U.S. — about double the 10-year average for this point in the season.
Agricultural Burns and Canadian Smoke Blanket the Southeast
Satellite analysts at NOAA tracked a dense smoke layer across the southeastern U.S. and Mid-Atlantic on June 13. Reporter News reported the smoke had persisted for roughly a week. It was tied to two sources: widespread agricultural burning across the region and remnant smoke drifting down from Central Canada. The layer stretched offshore well into the Atlantic Ocean.
One fire in the Bahamas added to the Atlantic smoke. The Ledger reported that a blaze near Little Abaco, Bahamas produced "light-to-moderate smoke" that moved northeast into the open ocean. Meanwhile, separate plumes from central Florida were also tracked moving offshore, transitioning as they left the coast.
Washington's Tule Rd Fire Sends Smoke Into the Pacific Northwest
The 4170 Tule Rd Fire ignited in Yakima, Washington on June 14 and quickly grew to over 5,000 acres. The Ledger reported that satellite imagery showed smoke "drifting northeastward" from the fire, with a second light-to-moderate plume moving toward the northwest. By June 15, smoke reached the Vancouver-Portland metro area. Air quality in The Dalles hit an "Unhealthy" rating of 159.
Other fires compounded the problem. The Snake River Fire near Clarkston, WA burned 686 acres. The Juniper Dunes and Twin Sisters fires in the Columbia Basin each exceeded 3,000 acres with zero containment. Smoke from all three contributed to the hazy conditions across the Pacific Northwest corridor.
Smoke Reaches Mexico and Central America, Crossing into the Pacific
The DOE map also tracked smoke well beyond U.S. borders. Desert Sun reported that plumes extended from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec through southern Mexico and into Central America, drifting into the Pacific Ocean. A separate remnant smoke layer crossed the Gulf of California and covered much of Baja California. Researchers warn that wildfire smoke is becoming a year-round, cross-border atmospheric event.
Washington Homeowners Face Up to $5,000 in Wildfire Prep Costs
In Central Washington, a private firm called Blue Pine Fuels released a cost guide for wildfire mitigation. Professional risk assessments start at around $125. Actual mitigation work — clearing brush and creating defensible space around a home — typically runs from $1,500 to over $5,000, depending on the property. The Ledger noted that insurers now use third-party risk scores built from satellite and property data to set rates and decide who gets covered.
Washington has money set aside to help. Blue Pine Fuels pointed to the Wildfire Resilience Account, created by House Bill 1168, which committed $500 million over eight years for forest restoration and home defense in high-risk wildland-urban interface areas. The current budget cycle allocated $60 million — less than half of the $125 million originally promised for this period. State Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer is also pushing Senate Bill 5928, which would require insurers to disclose how they calculate a home's risk score. Kuderer said: "If your home is being evaluated and there's financial consequences for you, you deserve to know where that score came from."
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