See Ash, Smell Smoke? Call 911 Only If You See Flames: Fire Officials

ISSAQUAH, WA - Local authorities are reporting an increase in 911 calls Tuesday morning due to a layer of ash that settled overnight. Fire officials are saying that the ash - and the smell of smoke in some area - is from fires burning in the Cascades and Eastern Washington, and that no new wildfires fires have sprung up overnight closer to Puget Sound.

"There is no local fire that is producing the smoke and ash. It is coming from the Jolly Mountain fire, Norse Peak fire and a few other smaller fires in Eastern Washington. We appreciate the public being diligent with reports. If you do see flames, please report it to 911 and crews will check it out. The smell and ash will be more prevalent if you live on a hill," Eastside Fire and Rescue Capt. Steve Westlake said in a release Tuesday.

The smoke and ash is expected to reduce air quality throughout the day Tuesday. The entire region is under an air quality alert. A marine air flow is expected to push the smoke out of the region beginning tonight, according to the National Weather Service.

Image via Washington State Patrol