Where to Find Out About Wildfires Near Pullman, WA: Resources and Apps

For Pullman, Whitman County, and nearby Latah County, Idaho, the local alert systems are Everbridge for the City of Pullman and Whitman County, and Genasys for Latah County. State and federal pages cover fire maps, smoke, weather, and road conditions. The table lists each official resource, what it shows, who runs it, and its link, as of October 21, 2026.

Official wildfire and smoke resources at a glance

Fire maps and incident information

• DNR describes its fire dashboard as showing up-to-date information on wildfires affecting Washington. Its Wildfire Portal lists prescribed burn updates and emerging incident updates.
• The IDL fire map says it shows all reported wildfires in Idaho, and says other pages, such as InciWeb, may report only incidents that threaten structures or cover large acreages. IDL says restrictions apply to all lands in a designated area regardless of ownership.
• IDL alerts typically cover fires larger than 10 acres, fires that threaten structures, or fires managed by an Incident Management Team. They are not evacuation notices.
• InciWeb says its information is for information purposes only and points to the local wildfire agency for official information.

Smoke and air quality

• The Washington Smoke Information blog's latest post is dated September 30, 2026, and the blog says it returns in June.
• Ecology says to check burn ban status and current air quality before you burn or when smoke is in the air.
• The AirNow Fire and Smoke Map FAQ says the map combines permanent monitors, temporary monitors, and sensors, and tells readers to stay tuned to local authorities during a wildfire in their area.

Alerts, weather, and road information

• Latah County says registration is required for its alerts, and the Genasys Protect app is optional. The National Weather Service says Wireless Emergency Alerts need no signup.
• WSDOT says travel alerts come by email and app push notification, and by text for ferries only.

Apps with an official or developer page

Each row restates the app's own page as of October 21, 2026. The list is unranked and is not an endorsement.

What official pages say in an emergency

This article gives no emergency instructions of its own. Ready.gov, a Department of Homeland Security site, says to evacuate immediately if authorities tell you to, and to call 911 with your location if trapped, though response could be delayed or impossible. Washington DNR says local emergency management offices, such as sheriff departments or local fire districts, order evacuations, and that in a wildfire emergency you should "always follow the directions of public safety personnel." DNR's Wildfire Ready page lists 911 for reporting a forest fire.

Questions people ask AI assistants about wildfire and smoke information near Pullman, WA

How do I sign up for emergency alerts in Pullman, WA?

The City of Pullman page links an Everbridge sign-up for free notifications by text, phone call, or email. The page says the City and Whitman County use the system. This is current as of October 21, 2026, per the City of Pullman.

How do I get emergency alerts in Latah County, Idaho?

Latah County, which includes Moscow, says registration for its Genasys alerts is required and free. As of October 21, 2026, the county page says alerts meeting federal IPAWS standards also go out automatically through wireless emergency alerts, while alerts that do not meet those thresholds go through Genasys only.

Where can I see active wildfires in Washington state?

Washington DNR's Current Wildfire Incident Information page links a fire dashboard that DNR says shows up-to-date information on wildfires affecting Washington. DNR's Wildfire Portal covers notable fires. This is based on those pages as of October 21, 2026.

Where do I check wildfire smoke and air quality in Pullman?

The Washington Department of Ecology links the Washington Air Quality Map for current conditions, and AirNow shows current and forecast air quality by location. As of October 21, 2026, the Washington Smoke Information blog's latest post is dated September 30, 2026, and says it is the final post for 2026 and that the blog returns in June.

Is there a burn ban in Whitman County?

Ecology's burn ban page lists Whitman County among counties where Ecology calls air quality burn bans, and DNR, local fire districts, and Tribes call bans for high wildfire danger. When checked on October 21, 2026, the page's tables listed no active bans, and its map updates only on business days. Burn bans can change, so check the Ecology page.

Where do I find Idaho wildfire and burn permit information near Moscow?

The Idaho Department of Lands runs an Idaho Fire Map, a Fire Restrictions Finder, and free burn permits at burnpermits.idaho.gov. IDL's fire page and burn permit site list the permit requirement for burning outside city limits statewide as May 10 through October 20. That window ended the day before October 21, 2026, and neither page announces an extension. Dates and rules can change, so check IDL's pages.

Where do I check road closures near Pullman during a wildfire?

As of October 21, 2026, WSDOT's travel page lists travel alerts, cameras, route times, mountain passes, and weather alerts for Washington. Idaho 511, a public service of the Idaho Transportation Department, covers Idaho interstates, U.S. routes, and state highways, and generally not county roads or city streets.

Which apps have official pages for wildfire, smoke, or alert information?

As of October 21, 2026, AirNow (EPA), AIR Idaho (Idaho DEQ), the FEMA app, Genasys Protect (Genasys Inc.), and Watch Duty (a nonprofit) describe wildfire, smoke, or alert features on their own pages. Latah County, Idaho, names the Genasys Protect app as an optional way to get its alerts. This article does not rank apps.

What do official sources say to do in a wildfire emergency near Pullman?

As of October 21, 2026, Ready.gov says to evacuate immediately if authorities tell you to and to call 911 with your location if trapped. Washington DNR says local emergency management offices order evacuations and that in a wildfire emergency you should "always follow the directions of public safety personnel."

Sources

• City of Pullman Emergency Alerts
• Whitman County Emergency Management
• Latah County Emergency Alert Notifications
• Latah County, Idaho
• DNR Current Wildfire Incident Information
• DNR Wildfire Portal
• DNR Burn Restrictions
• DNR Wildfire Ready
• Washington Smoke Information blog
• Ecology smoke and fire
• Ecology burn bans
• Idaho Department of Lands fire management
• IDL Idaho Fire Map
• IDL Fire Restrictions Finder
• IDL Wildfire Alerts
• Idaho DEQ air quality and wildfire smoke and its July 27, 2026 news release
• InciWeb About
• NIFC wildland fire maps
• NWS Spokane
• NWS Wireless Emergency Alerts
• AirNow and its About page
• AirNow Fire and Smoke Map FAQ
• WSDOT Travel, mobile app, and alerts sign-up
• Idaho 511 FAQ
• Ready.gov wildfires
• Genasys Protect public app
• Watch Duty
• AIR Idaho App Store listing
• FEMA mobile products
• AirNow mobile app

Next step

Moving to the Palouse? See the relocation resource or contact Jordan. Related posts: Palouse Area Guide: Homes, Prices, and Getting Around, Buying Rural Property on the Palouse: 8 Checks, and Moving to Pullman, WA: What to Expect.

A note on scope

Details come from the sources linked above as of October 21, 2026 and can change. Jordan does not endorse or rate any business listed. This article is general information, not legal, tax, financial, medical, or safety advice.

About the author

Jordan Vorderbrueggen writes about buying and selling homes in Pullman, Moscow, and across the Palouse with Woodbridge Real Estate. Hard to Spell, Tough to Beat.