Most areas in Idaho continue to experience Good air quality, even though several wildfires continue to burn in Idaho, as well as in Oregon, Washington, and Montana. The Treasure Valley and Weiser area experienced Moderate air quality due to wildfire smoke from the Oregon fires. The Hill Top fire, six miles east of Boise near Lucky Peak, started around 5 pm last evening. This caused an increase in smoke in the Treasure Valley during the nighttime and early morning hours. Lowman also experienced Moderate air quality yesterday, with elevated concentrations during the early morning hours. However, concentrations remained in the Good range this morning.
Today, westerly winds could bring smoke into northern Idaho from the Washington fires. However, the smoke impacts should be light. Southern Idaho will continue to see light smoke impacts from fires in Oregon. Areas to the east of fires, as well as drainage basins, will experience light smoke impacts. However, during the day, any wildfire smoke in the valleys should mix out.
Most areas of Idaho are forecasted to remain in the Good air quality for today, with Lowman and Challis forecasted to be in the upper Good to lower Moderate range.
4
emergency monitors have been installed in Idaho to help monitor smoke impacts
from wildfires:
- DEQ installed a monitor in Challis for the Lodgepole fire. The information can be found at http://app.airsis.com/USFS/ Choose monitor #Idaho1004
- The USFS installed monitors in Lowman, Atlanta, Challis. The information can be found at http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/smoke.pl
o Lowman
monitor is Smoke#19
o Atlanta
monitor is Smoke#13
o Challis
monitor is Smoke#21 – co-located with DEQ’s monitor
o Users should be
aware that the Forest Service site reports the data in Coordinated Universal
Time (UTC). To convert from UTS to Mountain Daylight Time, subtract 6
hours.
Seven large wildfires are now burning in Idaho. Most fires showed very little activity yesterday. However, the Hill Top fire started yesterday and created a significant amount of smoke near the fire.
Fire Name
|
Location
|
Start Date
|
Current Size (acres)
|
Ridge fire
|
15 miles north of Lowman
|
July 16
|
5,270
|
Lodgepole fire
|
10 miles west of Challis
|
July 20
|
20,325
|
Gold Pan Complex
|
35 miles southwest of Conner, MT in the Bitterroot National Forest
|
July 16
|
16,358
|
Papoose Fire
|
40 miles west of Salmon
|
July 8
|
9,486
|
Crescendo
|
22 miles south of Avery, ID
|
July 15
|
1,100
|
Thunder City fire
|
4 miles northeast of Stibnite, ID
|
July 19
|
1,595
|
Mabey fire
|
5 miles northeast of Bancroft
|
August 5
|
850
|
Hill Top fire
|
6 miles east of Boise
|
August 6
|
400
|
Smoke forecasts are dependent on predicted fire growth and weather. If conditions change unexpectedly, impacts could occur. Communities nearby active fires may experience periods of air quality which are Moderate (visibility of 6-10 miles). When visibility starts to go below 5 miles, sensitive groups should minimize outdoor activities. Everyone else should minimize prolonged or physical activity outdoors. Refer to the Smoke and Health Tab on the Idaho Smoke Information Blog for additional health information.
Your eyes are your best tools to determine if it’s safe to be outside. Even if you smell smoke, the air quality may still be good.
AQI Category
|
Visibility (miles)
|
Good
|
11+
|
Moderate
|
6-10
|
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
|
3-5
|
Unhealthy
|
1½ -2¾
|
Very Unhealthy
|
1-1¼
|
Hazardous
|
Less than 1
|
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