Authorities announced significant evacuations in the vicinity of the Nakia Creek Fire in Southwest Washington. Some 400 acres were burning and approximately 1,000 homes may be affected by the evacuation order. Meanwhile, much of the Pacific Northwest west of the Cascades was experiencing poor air quality over the weekend because of smoke amid windy, dry, unseasonably warm weather. In Washington, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency said the region had air quality ratings ranging from unhealthy to unhealthy for sensitive groups. …The conditions, which also prompted red flag warnings for increased fire danger, were expected to continue through Sunday. …A new fire ignited Saturday northwest of Portland near Fishhawk Lake, according to state Forestry officials. It wasn’t threatening any structures. Nine other fires were burning throughout the Northwest in one of the driest periods on record.

Additional coverage in Wildfire Today, by Bill Gabbert: Strong winds spread fires in Western Washington