Pierce County Postpones Mobile Testing, Citing Air Quality

TACOMA, WA — Pierce County will halt service at its mobile testing stations as the region grapples with unhealthy air due to wildfire smoke, officials announced Friday. According to the testing schedule, events were planned Saturday at Vassault Park and UW Tacoma. The county said it will reevaluate conditions Monday and make further changes if necessary.

Find a full schedule of mobile testing events on the Pierce County website.

A shroud of smoke descended on Western Washington Friday morning, as southerly winds pushed in a "super-massive" plume from wildfires burning in Oregon and California. Forecasters expect poor air quality through the weekend, with the potential for especially thick smoke from Friday night to Saturday morning.

The National Weather Service expects a gradual improvement to air quality starting early Sunday, ahead of a frontal system that could provide much-needed rain showers starting Monday night.